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Taxonomy of the Lepidoptera

Classification of moths and butterflies From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Taxonomy of the Lepidoptera
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The insect order Lepidoptera consists of moths and butterflies (43 superfamilies).[1] Most moths are night-flying, while the butterflies (superfamily Papilionoidea) are the mainly day-flying. Within Lepidoptera as a whole, the groups listed below before Glossata contain a few basal families accounting for less than 200 species; the bulk of Lepidoptera are in the Glossata.[1] Similarly, within the Glossata, there are a few basal groups listed first, with the bulk of species in the Heteroneura. Basal groups within Heteroneura cannot be defined with as much confidence, as there are still some disputes concerning the proper relations among these groups. At the family level, however, most groups are well defined, and the families are commonly used by hobbyists and scientists alike.

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Micropterix aureatella, a micropterigid moth
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Unassigned fossil lepidopterans

Suborder Zeugloptera

Suborder Aglossata

Suborder Heterobathmiina

Suborder Glossata

Infraorder Dacnonypha

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Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, an eriocranid moth

Clade Coelolepida, encompassing all remaining groups

Infraorder Acanthoctesia

Infraorder Lophocoronina

Clade Myoglossata, encompassing all remaining groups

Infraorder Neopseustina

Clade Neolepidoptera, encompassing all remaining groups

Infraorder Exoporia

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Oncopera brunneata, a hepalialid moth

Infraorder Heteroneura

Clade Nepticulina

Clade Eulepidoptera, encompassing all remaining groups

Clade Incurvariina
Clade Etimonotrysia
Clade Ditrysia, encompassing all remaining groups
Clade Apoditrysia, encompassing all remaining groups
Clade Obtectomera, encompassing all remaining groups
Clade Macroheterocera (Macrolepidoptera sensu sticto), encompassing all remaining groups
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Catocala nupta, red underwing, a noctuid moth
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Drymonia ruficornis, a notodontid moth
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References

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