Moth

Moths
Atlas moth, Attacus atlas
Atlas moth, Attacus atlas
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
(unranked): Amphiesmenoptera
Order: Lepidoptera
Major divisions

Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies.[1] They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (suborder Rhopalocera) and neither subordinate taxon is used in modern classifications. Moths make up the vast majority of the order. There are approximately 160,000 species of moth,[2] many of which have yet to be described. Most species of moth are nocturnal, although there are also crepuscular and diurnal species.

  1. ^ Heppner, J.B. (2008). "Moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera)". In Capinera, J.L. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. pp. 2491–2494. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_4705. ISBN 978-1-4020-6242-1.
  2. ^ "Moths". Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2012.