Class Insecta

Order Lepidoptera: Butterflies and moths

 

Life history

 

Fall cankerworm adult male.  (37) Photo: David Laughlin	Fall cankerworm adult female. (38) Photo: John Davidson

 

Order Lepidoptera, butterflies, moths

The name Lepidoptera, derived from the Greek words “lepido” for scale and “ptera” for wings, refers to the flattened hairs (scales) that cover the body and wings of most adults. Adults feed on flowers or tree sap for nutrients. Larvae are called caterpillars and have a well-developed head with chewing mouthparts. In addition to three pairs of legs on the thorax, they have up to five pairs of fleshy abdominal prolegs that are structurally different from the thoracic legs. Most lepidopteran larvae are herbivores; some species eat foliage, some burrow into stems or roots, and some are leaf-miners.

 

Classification: Two

Butterflies fly during the day, adults have mouthparts to suck nectar; larva feed upon leaves

Moths fly during the night, adults have no mouthparts; to suck nectar; larva feed upon leaves

 

Morphology:

adults

1. mouthparts: Mouthparts form a coiled tube (proboscis) beneath the head for collecting nectar

2. antennae: butterflies: capitate, knobbed or hooked at tip; .moths: thread-like, spindle-shaped, or plumose, feather-like

3. legs: cursorial

4. body segments: three body segment, head, thorax, abdomen; Body and wings covered with small, overlapping scales

5. tarsi:

6. wings: Front wings large, triangular; hind wings large, fan-shaped; and wings covered with small, overlapping scales

7. eyes: compound eyes well developed.

immatures:

1. Head capsule well developed, with chewing mouthparts

2. Abdomen with up to 5 pairs of prolegs

 

Development: Complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult)

 

Life history:

habitats: terrestrial

feeding: leaves; wood.

 

Importance in landscapes: Although many Lepidoptera are valued for their beauty, and a few are useful in commerce, such as the silkworm; the larvae of these insects are probably more destructive to trees than any other group of insects.

 

Families:

Butterflies:

brush footed butterflies (Family Nymphalidae) front legs reduced in size.  This is the largest butterfly family; it includes the fritillaries, admirals, emperors, and tortoiseshells.

 

milkweed butterflies (Family Dana  adults are reddish-orange with black and white markings.   Larvae feed on various species of milkweed.  Includes the monarch.

 

whites and sulfurs (Family Pieridae)  adults are predominantly white or yellow with black markings. The imported cabbageworm is a pest throughout the world.

 

swallowtails (Family Papillionidae)  hind wings have a tail-like extension. The tiger swallowtail is a cosmopolitan species.

 

blues, coppers, and hairstreaks (Family Lycaenidae)  small butterflies with fluted hind wings. Some species are extinct or nearing extinction, others are very common.

 

skippers (Family Hesperiidae)  antennal club is hooked at the tip. The silverspotted skipper is a common species.

 

Moths:

clothes moths (Family Tineidae)  some larvae construct cases and feed on natural fibers. Pests include the webbing clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth.

 

micropleps (Family Gelechiidae)  one of the largest families of micro-lepidoptera. These larvae feed on plants or plant products. Pests include the Angoumois grain moth and the pink bollworm).

 

clearwing moths (Family Sesiidae)  diurnally active adults mimic wasps. Many pests of fruit and vegetable crops, including the peachtree borer and squash vine borer .

 

tortricid moths (Family Tortricidae) fourth largest family of Lepidoptera. Larvae feed inside stems, leaves, and fruit. Contains many pest species, including the codling moth and the oriental fruit moth

 

snout moths (Family Pyralidae)  second largest family of Lepidoptera. Pests include the European corn borer the Indian meal moth), and the greater wax moth.

 

inchworms or spanworms (Family Geometridae) third largest family of Lepidoptera.   Larvae are often called. Includes the winter moth and the fall cankerworm).

 

lappet moths (Family Lasiocampidae) larvae feed on the leaves of trees and some spin large webs or tents on the foliage. Pests include the eastern tent caterpillar and the forest tent caterpillar.

 

giant silk moths (Family Saturniidae) large, colorful moths. Larvae feed on a wide range of trees and shrubs. Well-known species include the cecropia moth and the luna moth.

 

hawk moths (Family Sphingidae) medium to large adults with long proboscis for collecting nectar. Larvae are frequently called hornworms. Pests include the tobacco hornworm and tomato hornworm.

 

tiger moths (Family Arctiidae) distinctive adults, usually white with black, red, yellow, or orange markings. Many larvae are covered with long hairs (woolly bears). Includes the fall webworm.

 

tussock moths (Family Lymantriidae) larvae are characterized by tufts of hair along the body. Adults do not feed. Pests include the gypsy moth and the browntail moth

 

loopers, owlet moths, and underwings (Family Noctuidae) this is the largest family in the Lepidoptera. Larvae are leaf feeders and stem borers.  Many species are pests, including the fall armyworm the black cutworm), and the cabbage looper).

 

In textbook, IPM of Midwest Landscapes

Pests of trees and shrubs

 

Order Lepidoptera, Butterflies and moths

Family Arctiidae, Tiger or footman moths

     fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea

Family Argyresthiidae, Ermine moths

     arborvitae leafminer, Arbyresthia thuiella

Family Coleophoridae, Casebearers

     elm casebearer, Coleophora ulmifoliella

Family Galacticidae, Webworms

     mimosa webworm, Homadaula anisocentra

Family Geometridae, Measuring worms or geometers

     cankerworms, fall, Alsophila pometaria

     cankerworms, spring, Paleacrita vernata

Family Lasiocampidae, Tent caterpillars

     Eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum

     forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria

Family Lymantriidae, Tussock and gypsy moths

     gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar

     whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma

Family Notodontidae, Prominents

     poplar tentmaker, Clostera inclusa

     redhumped caterpillar, Schizura concinna

     walnut caterpillar, Datana integerrima

     yellownecked caterpillar, Datana ministra

Family Nymphalidae, Brush-footed butterflies

     mourningcloak butterfly, Nymphalis antiopa

Family Psychidae, Bagworm moths

     bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Family Sesiidae, Clear-winged moths

     clearwing borers, several species

Family Tortricidae, Tortricid moths

     Eastern pine shoot borer, Eucosma gloriola

     European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana

     spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana

     uglynest caterpillar, Archips cerasivorana

     Zimmerman pine moth, Dioryctria zimmermani

 

Pests of turf

Order Lepidoptera, Butterflies and moths

Family Noctuidae, Noctuid moths

     armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta

     armyworm, fall, Spodoptera frugiperda

     cutworm, black, Agrotis ipsilon

     cutworm, bronzed, Nephelodes mimians

     cutworm, variegated, Peridroma saucia

Family Pyralidae, Pyralid moths

     sod webworms, Crambus and Parapediasia species