![Micropterix](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Micropterix.aureatella.jpg)
The
insect
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...
order Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
consists of
moths
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...
(43
superfamilies), most of which are night-flying, and a
derived
Derive may refer to:
* Derive (computer algebra system), a commercial system made by Texas Instruments
* ''Dérive'' (magazine), an Austrian science magazine on urbanism
*Dérive, a psychogeographical concept
See also
*
*Derivation (disambiguatio ...
group, mainly day-flying, called
butterflies
Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...
(superfamily
Papilionoidea
The superfamily Papilionoidea (from the genus '' Papilio'', meaning "butterfly") contains all the butterflies except for the moth-like Hedyloidea.
The members of the Papilionoidea may be distinguished by the following combination of character ...
). Within Lepidoptera as a whole, the groups listed below before
Glossata
Glossata (Fabricius, 1775) is the suborder of the insect order Lepidoptera that contains most lepidopteran species and includes all the Superfamily (zoology), superfamilies of moths and butterfly, butterflies that have a coilable proboscis. (See ...
contain a few
basal families accounting for less than 200 species; the bulk of Lepidoptera are in the Glossata. Similarly, within the Glossata, there are a few basal groups listed first, with the bulk of species in the
Heteroneura
Heteroneura is a natural group (or clade) in the insect order Lepidoptera that comprises over 99% of all butterflies and moths. This is the sister group of the infraorder
Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ran ...
. 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.
Unassigned fossil lepidopterans
*Family unassigned (12
genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
, 16
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
)
*Family
Archaeolepidae
*Family
Mesokristenseniidae
*Family
Eolepidopterigidae
Eolepidopterigoidea is an extinct superfamily of moths, containing the single family Eolepidopterigidae, although the genus ''Undopterix'' is sometimes placed in a separate family Undopterigidae. The type-genus of the family is ''Eolepidopterix'' ...
*Family
Undopterigidae
Suborder
Zeugloptera
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...
*Superfamily
Micropterigoidea
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...
**Family
Micropterigidae
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...
Suborder
Aglossata
''Agathiphaga'' is a genus of moths, known as kauri moths. It is the only living in the family Agathiphagidae. This caddisfly-like lineage of primitive moths was first reported by Lionel Jack Dumbleton in 1952, as a new genus of Micropterigidae. ...
*Superfamily
Agathiphagoidea
**Family
Agathiphagidae
''Agathiphaga'' is a genus of moths, known as kauri moths. It is the only living in the family Agathiphagidae. This caddisfly-like lineage of primitive moths was first reported by Lionel Jack Dumbleton in 1952, as a new genus of Micropterigidae ...
Suborder
Heterobathmiina
''Heterobathmia'' is a genus of Lepidoptera. It is the only genus in the suborder Heterobathmiina, as well as in the superfamily Heterobathmioidea and in the family Heterobathmiidae. Primitive, day-flying, metallic moths confined to southern So ...
*Superfamily
Heterobathmioidea
**Family
Heterobathmiidae
''Heterobathmia'' is a genus of Lepidoptera. It is the only genus in the suborder Heterobathmiina, as well as in the superfamily Heterobathmioidea and in the family Heterobathmiidae. Primitive, day-flying, metallic moths confined to southern So ...
Suborder
Glossata
Glossata (Fabricius, 1775) is the suborder of the insect order Lepidoptera that contains most lepidopteran species and includes all the Superfamily (zoology), superfamilies of moths and butterfly, butterflies that have a coilable proboscis. (See ...
Infraorder
Dacnonypha
Eriocraniidae is a family of moths restricted to the Holarctic region, with six extant genera. These small, metallic moths are usually day-flying, emerging fairly early in the northern temperate spring. They have a proboscis with which they drin ...
![Dyseriocrania subpurpurella](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Dyseriocrania_subpurpurella.jpg)
*Superfamily
Eriocranioidea
**Family
Eriocraniidae
Clade Coelolepida, encompassing all remaining groups
Infraorder Acanthoctesia
*Superfamily
Acanthopteroctetoidea
**Family
Acanthopteroctetidae
Acanthopteroctetidae is a small family of primitive moths with two described genera, ''Acanthopteroctetes'' and '' Catapterix'', and a total of seven described species. They are known as the archaic sun moths.
As of 2002, the Acanthopteroctetida ...
Infraorder
Lophocoronina
Lophocoronoidea is a superfamily of insects in the order Lepidoptera. There is a single extant genus, ''Lophocorona'', in the family Lophocoronidae. These are small, primitive nocturnal moths restricted to Australia whose biology is largely unkn ...
*Superfamily
Lophocoronoidea
**Family
Lophocoronidae
Clade Myoglossata, encompassing all remaining groups
Infraorder
Neopseustina
Neopseustidae is a small family of day and night-flying "archaic bell moths" in the order Lepidoptera. They are classified into their own superfamily Neopseustoidea and infraorder Neopseustina. Four genera are known. These primitive moths are re ...
*Superfamily
Neopseustoidea
**Family
Neopseustidae
Neopseustidae is a small family of day and night-flying "archaic bell moths" in the order Lepidoptera. They are classified into their own superfamily Neopseustoidea and infraorder Neopseustina. Four genera are known. These primitive moths are re ...
**Family
Aenigmatineidae
Clade Neolepidoptera, encompassing all remaining groups
Infraorder
Exoporia
The Exoporia are a group of primitive Lepidoptera comprising the superfamilies Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea.Nielsen, E.S., Robinson, G.S. and Wagner, D.L. 2000. Ghost-moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia (Mne ...
![Oncopera brunneata](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Oncopera_brunneata.jpg)
*Superfamily
Mnesarchaeoidea
Mnesarchaeoidea is a superfamily of "New Zealand primitive moths" containing one family, Mnesarchaeidae and a two genera, ''Mnesarchaea'', and ''Mnesarchella,'' both of which are endemic to New Zealand.
Taxonomy and systematics
Mnesarchaeoid ...
**Family
Mnesarchaeidae
*Superfamily
Hepialoidea
The Hepialoidea are the superfamily of "ghost moths" and "swift moths".
Fossils
Fossil Hepialoidea appear to be few. ''Prohepialus'' (possibly Hepialidae) has been described from the about 35-million-year-old Bembridge marls of Isle of Wight. ...
**Family
Palaeosetidae
The Palaeosetidae or miniature ghost moths are a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera contained within the superfamily Hepialoidea.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Palaeosetidae are a primitive family of Hepialoidea with four currently reco ...
**Family
Prototheoridae
''Prototheora'' is a genus of moths. It is the only genus of the Prototheoridae, or the African primitive ghost moths, a family of insects in the lepidopteran order, contained in the superfamily Hepialoidea. These moths are endemic to Southern Af ...
**Family
Neotheoridae
Neotheoridae, or Amazonian primitive ghost moths, is a primitive family of insects in the lepidopteran order containing a single genus and species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an orga ...
**Family
Anomosetidae
''Anomoses hylecoetes'' is a species of primitive hepialoid moth endemic to Queensland and New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinate ...
**Family
Hepialidae
The Hepialidae are a family of insects in the lepidopteran order. Moths of this family are often referred to as swift moths or ghost moths.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Hepialidae constitute by far the most diverse group of the infraorder Exopo ...
Infraorder
Heteroneura
Heteroneura is a natural group (or clade) in the insect order Lepidoptera that comprises over 99% of all butterflies and moths. This is the sister group of the infraorder
Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ran ...
Clade Nepticulina
*Superfamily
Nepticuloidea
Nepticuloidea is a superfamily of usually very small monotrysian moths that are characterised by small or large eyecaps over the compound eyes.
It comprises two families, the "pigmy moths" (Nepticulidae), with 12 genera which are very diverse wor ...
**Family
Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae is a family of very small moths with a worldwide distribution. They are characterised by eyecaps over the eyes (see also Opostegidae, Bucculatricidae, Lyonetiidae). These pigmy moths or midget moths, as they are commonly known, incl ...
**Family
Opostegidae
Clade Eulepidoptera, encompassing all remaining groups
=Clade Incurvariina
=
*Superfamily
Andesianoidea
**Family
Andesianidae
*Superfamily
Adeloidea
Adeloidea is a superfamily of primitive monotrysian moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are th ...
**Family
Heliozelidae
A family of primitive monotrysian moths in the order Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae are small, metallic day-flying moths with shiny smooth heads. In Europe the small adult moths (genera ''Antispila'' and ''Heliozela'') are seldom noticed as they fly qu ...
**Family
Adelidae
The Adelidae or fairy longhorn moths are a family of monotrysian moths in the lepidopteran infraorder Heteroneura. The family was first described by Charles Théophile Bruand d'Uzelle in 1851. Most species have at least partially metallic patter ...
**Family
Incurvariidae
Incurvariidae is a family of small primitive monotrysian moths in the order Lepidoptera. There are twelve genera recognised (Davis, 1999). Many species are leaf miners and much is known of their host plants, excluding ''Paraclemensia acerifoliell ...
**Family
Cecidosidae
Cecidosidae is a family of primitive monotrysian moths in the order Lepidoptera which have a piercing ovipositor used for laying eggs in plant tissue in which they induce galls, or they mine in bark (Davis, 1999; Hoare and Dugdale, 2003). Nine spe ...
**Family
Prodoxidae
The Prodoxidae are a family of moths, generally small in size and nondescript in appearance. They include species of moderate pest status, such as the Lampronia capitella, currant shoot borer, and others of considerable ecological and evolutiona ...
=Clade Etimonotrysia
=
*Superfamily
Palaephatoidea
**Family
Palaephatidae
*Superfamily
Tischerioidea
Tischerioidea is the superfamily of "trumpet" leaf miner moths. The superfamily contains just one family, Tischeriidae, and traditionally one genus, '' Tischeria'', but currently three genera are recognised, widespread around the world including ...
**Family
Tischeriidae
=Clade
Ditrysia
The Ditrysia are a natural group or clade of insects in the lepidopteran order containing both butterflies and moths. They are so named because the female has two distinct sexual openings: one for mating, and the other for laying eggs (in contra ...
, encompassing all remaining groups=
*unassigned (25 genera, 100 species)
**Family
Millieriidae
*Superfamily
Tineoidea
Tineoidea is the ditrysian superfamily of moths that includes clothes moths, Bagworm moth, bagworms and relatives. There are six families usually included within it, Eriocottidae, Arrhenophanidae, Lypusidae, Acrolophidae, Tineidae and Psychidae, ...
**Family
Acrolophidae
**Family
Arrhenophanidae
**Family
Eriocottidae
**Family
Psychidae
The Psychidae (bagworm moths, also simply bagworms or bagmoths) are a family of the Lepidoptera ( butterflies and moths). The bagworm family is fairly small, with about 1,350 species described. Bagworm species are found globally, with some, ...
**Family
Tineidae
Tineidae is a family of moths in the order Lepidoptera described by Pierre André Latreille in 1810. Collectively, they are known as fungus moths or tineid moths. The family contains considerably more than 3,000 species in more than 300 genera. ...
*Superfamily
Gracillarioidea
**Family
Roeslerstammiidae
**Family
Bucculatricidae
Bucculatricidae or (Bucculatrigidae) is a family of moths. This small family has representatives in all parts of the world. Some authors place the group as a subfamily of the family Lyonetiidae.
Adults of this family are easily overlooked, bein ...
**Family
Gracillariidae
Gracillariidae is an important family of insects in the order Lepidoptera and the principal family of leaf miners that includes several economic, horticultural or recently invasive pest species such as the horse-chestnut leaf miner, ''Cameraria ...
*Superfamily
Yponomeutoidea
Yponomeutoidea is a superfamily of ermine moths and relatives. There are about 1,800 species of Yponomeutoids worldwide, most of them known to come from temperate regions. This superfamily is one of the earliest groups to evolve external feeding ...
**Family
Yponomeutidae
: ''Certain members of the unrelated snout moths (Pyralidae) are also known as "ermine moths." Spilosoma lubricipeda is an unrelated moth with the common name "white ermine."''
The family Yponomeutidae are known as the ermine moths, with severa ...
**Family
Argyresthiidae
Argyresthiidae is a family of moths known as the shiny head-standing moths. It was previously treated as a subfamily of Yponomeutidae.
Genera
*''Argyresthia'' Hübner, 825
__NOTOC__
Year 825 ( DCCCXXV) was a common year starting on Sunday ...
**Family
Plutellidae
The Plutellidae are a family of moths commonly known as the diamondback moths, named after the diamondback moth (''Plutella xylostella'') of European origin. It was once considered to have three subfamilies: Plutellinae, Praydinae, and Scythropi ...
**Family
Glyphipterigidae
The Glyphipterigidae are a family of small moths commonly known as sedge moths, as the larvae of many species feed on sedge
The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family ...
**Family
Ypsolophidae
Ypsolophidae is a family of moths with some 160 species. They are included in the Plutellidae by many authors.
Systematics
This is a list of genera and selected species.
Ypsolophinae
* '' Phrealcia'' Chrétien, 1900
* '' Ypsolopha'' Latreille, ...
**Family
Attevidae
''Atteva'' is a genus of moths in the monotypic family Attevidae. The group has a pantropical distribution; however, the range of at least one species, ''Atteva aurea'', extends into the temperate zone. No consistent hypotheses regarding the rela ...
**Family
Praydidae
Praydidae is a family of false ermine moths in the superfamily Yponomeutoidea. Though once considered a subfamily (Praydinae), a 2013 molecular analysis elevated it to family rank.
Genera
*''Atemelia'' Herrich-Schäffer, 1853
*''Dictyoprays'' J. ...
**Family
Heliodinidae
Heliodinidae, commonly known as sun moths, is a family of small moths with slender bodies and narrow wings. Members of this family are found in most parts of the world. Heliodinid moths are brightly coloured day-flying moths. The base of the haus ...
**Family
Bedelliidae
Bedelliidae is a small family of small, narrow-winged moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are ...
**Family
Lyonetiidae
Lyonetiidae is a family of moths with some 200 described species. These are small, slender moths, the wingspan rarely exceeding 1 cm. The very narrow forewings, held folded backwards covering the hindwings and abdomen, often have pointed ap ...
=Clade
Apoditrysia
The Ditrysia are a natural group or clade of insects in the lepidopteran order containing both butterflies and moths. They are so named because the female has two distinct sexual openings: one for mating, and the other for laying eggs (in con ...
, encompassing all remaining groups=
*unassigned superfamily
**Family
Prodidactidae
**Family
Douglasiidae
Douglasiidae is a small Lepidopteran family including around 28 species of micromoth whose adults are collectively called Douglas moths. The largest genus in the family is ''Tinagma''. They are primarily found in the Palearctic (20 spp.) and Near ...
*Superfamily
Simaethistoidea
Simaethistoidea is an obscure superfamily of pyralid-like moths with two genera, whose biology and relationships among the Ditrysia
The Ditrysia are a natural group or clade of insects in the lepidopteran order containing both butterflies and ...
**Family
Simaethistidae
*Superfamily
Gelechioidea
__NOTOC__
Gelechioidea (from the type genus ''Gelechia'', "keeping to the ground") is the superfamily of moths that contains the case-bearers, twirler moths, and relatives, also simply called curved-horn moths or gelechioid moths. It is a large a ...
**Family
Autostichidae
Autostichidae is a family of moths in the moth superfamily
SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, es ...
**Family
Lecithoceridae
The Lecithoceridae, or long-horned moths, are a family of small moths described by Simon Le Marchand in 1947. Although lecithocerids are found throughout the world, the great majority are found in the Indomalayan realm and the southern part of th ...
**Family
Xyloryctidae
Xyloryctidae is a family of moths contained within the superfamily Gelechioidea described by Edward Meyrick in 1890. Most genera are found in the Indo-Australian region. While many of these moths are tiny, some members of the family grow to a win ...
**Family
Blastobasidae
The Blastobasidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Its species can be found almost anywhere in the world, though in some places they are not native but introduced by humans. In some arrangements, these moths are included in t ...
**Family
Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae (concealer moths) is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this.
Ta ...
**Family
Schistonoeidae
**Family
Lypusidae
Lypusidae is an obscure family of moths placed in the superfamily Gelechioidea.
History of classification
The group was traditionally considered monotypic (containing only the genus ''Lypusa'' with two species) and belonging in the primitive mo ...
**Family
Chimabachidae
**Family
Peleopodidae
**Family
Elachistidae
The Elachistidae (grass-miner moths) are a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Some authors lump about 3,300 species in eight subfamilies here, but this arrangement almost certainly results in a massively paraphyletic and co ...
**Family
Syringopaidae
**Family
Coelopoetidae
**Family
Stathmopodidae
**Family
Epimarptidae
Epimarptidae was a former, or is a possible, monotypic family of moths in the moth superfamily Gelechioidea. It can now be seen as either a synonym of family Batrachedridae, or a monotypic subfamily of that family.
Taxonomy and systematics
Epi ...
**Family
Batrachedridae
The Batrachedridae are a small family of tiny moths. These are small, slender moths which rest with their wings wrapped tightly around their bodies.
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of this and related groups is often disputed.
This group was first propos ...
**Family
Coleophoridae
__NOTOC__
The Coleophoridae are a family of small moths, belonging to the huge superfamily Gelechioidea. Collectively known as case-bearers, casebearing moths or case moths, this family is represented on all continents, but the majority are found ...
**Family
Momphidae
The Momphidae, or mompha moths, is a family of moths with some 115 described species. It was described by Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer in 1857. These moths tend to be rather small with a wingspan of up to 21 mm. The wings are he ...
**Family
Pterolonchidae
Pterolonchidae is a small family of very small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea.Wikispecies (2008-NOV-06) There are species native to every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
Taxonomy and systematics
As of 2014 the family may be co ...
**Family
Scythrididae
Scythrididae (flower moths) is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The family is sometimes included in the Xyloryctidae as a subfamily Scythridinae, but the Xyloryctidae themselves have sometimes been included in the Oecopho ...
**Family
Cosmopterigidae
The Cosmopterigidae are a family of insects (cosmet moths) in the order Lepidoptera. These are small moths with narrow wings whose tiny larvae feed internally on the leaves, seeds and stems of their host plants. About 1500 species are described. ...
**Family
Gelechiidae
The Gelechiidae are a family of moths commonly referred to as twirler moths or gelechiid moths. They are the namesake family of the huge and little-studied superfamily Gelechioidea, and the family's taxonomy has been subject to considerable dis ...
*Superfamily
Alucitoidea
Aluctoidea is the superfamily of many-plumed and false plume moths. These small moths are most easily recognized by their wings. These each consist of many (typically more than 3) narrow strips of membrane around the major veins, instead of a con ...
**Family
Tineodidae
__NOTOC__
The Tineodidae or false plume moths are a family of moths with in some cases unusually modified wings: Like in some related moths, the wings of several Tineodidae are decomposed into several rigid spines. This is a small family, with ab ...
**Family
Alucitidae
*Superfamily
Pterophoroidea
The Pterophoridae or plume moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings. Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are tiny and were formerly included among the assemblag ...
**Family
Pterophoridae
The Pterophoridae or plume moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings. Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are tiny and were formerly included among the assemblag ...
*Superfamily
Carposinoidea
**Family
Copromorphidae
Copromorphidae, the "tropical fruitworm moths", is a family of insects in the lepidopteran order. These moths have broad, rounded forewings, and well-camouflaged scale patterns. Unlike Carposinidae the mouthparts include "labial palps" with ...
**Family
Carposinidae
Carposinidae, the "fruitworm moths", is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera. These moths are narrower winged than Copromorphidae, with less rounded forewing tips. Males often have conspicuous patches of scales on either surface (Dugdale ...
*Superfamily
Schreckensteinioidea
Schreckensteinioidea is a Taxonomy (biology), superfamily in the insect Taxonomy (biology), order Lepidoptera containing a single Taxonomy (biology), family, Schreckensteiniidae, or "bristle-legged moths", because of the stout spines on the hindl ...
**Family
Schreckensteiniidae
Schreckensteinioidea is a superfamily in the insect order Lepidoptera containing a single family, Schreckensteiniidae, or "bristle-legged moths", because of the stout spines on the hindlegs. The superfamily and family were both described by Thom ...
*Superfamily
Epermenioidea
**Family
Epermeniidae
Epermeniidae or the fringe-tufted moths is a family of insects in the lepidopteran order with about 14 genera. Previously they have been divided in two subfamilies Epermeniinae and Ochromolopinae (e.g. Common, 1990: 321) but this is no longer mai ...
*Superfamily
Urodoidea
Urodoidea is a superfamily of moths in the clade Apoditrysia. It currently contains two families: Urodidae and Ustyurtiidae.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q19896545
Lepidoptera superfamilies
Ditrysia ...
**Family
Urodidae
Urodidae or "false burnet moths" is a family of moths in the lepidopteran order. It is the type genus in the superfamily, Urodoidea, with three genera, one of which, ''Wockia'', occurs in Europe.
Taxonomy and systematics
Urodidae were previousl ...
**Family
Ustyurtiidae
''Ustyurtia'' is the sole genus of moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approx ...
*Superfamily
Immoidea
**Family
Immidae
Immoidea is a superfamily of pantropical moths containing only the family Immidae comprising ten genera with around 250 species, over half of them in the genus '' Imma''. Many are brightly coloured and diurnal. The position of this group is cur ...
*Superfamily
Choreutoidea
**Family
Choreutidae
Choreutidae, or metalmark moths, are a family of insects in the lepidopteran order whose relationships have been long disputed. It was placed previously in the superfamily Yponomeutoidea in family Glyphipterigidae and in superfamily Sesioide ...
*Superfamily
Galacticoidea
**Family
Galacticidae
Galacticidae is a recently recognised and enigmatic family of insects in the lepidopteran order. These moderate sized moths are 8–17 mm in wingspan and have previously been embedded within several lepidopteran superfamilies (Tineoidea: ...
*Superfamily
Tortricoidea
The Tortricidae are a family of moths, commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths, in the order Lepidoptera. This large family has over 11,000 species described, and is the sole member of the superfamily Tortricoidea, although the genus ...
**Family
Tortricidae
The Tortricidae are a family of moths, commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths, in the order Lepidoptera. This large family has over 11,000 species described, and is the sole member of the superfamily Tortricoidea, although the genu ...
*Superfamily
Cossoidea
Cossoidea is the superfamily of moths that includes carpenter moths and relatives. Like their likely sister group Sesioidea they are internal feeders and have spiny pupae with moveable segments to allow them to extrude out of their exit holes in ...
**Family
Brachodidae
Brachodidae is a family of day-flying moths, commonly known as little bear moths, which contains about 135 species distributed around much of the world (Edwards et al. 1999). The relationships and status of the presently included genera are not w ...
**Family
Cossidae
The Cossidae, the cossid millers or carpenter millers, make up a family (biology), family of mostly large Miller (moth), miller moths. This family contains over 110 genera with almost 700 known species, and many more species await description. ...
**Family
Dudgeoneidae
**Family
Metarbelidae
The Metarbelidae are a family of the Cossoidea also called the carpenter or goat moths, and is sometimes treated as a subfamily, Metarbelinae of the Cossidae. No synapomorphies are shared with the Cossidae based on adult morphology. The family Me ...
**Family
Ratardidae
**Family
Castniidae
Castniidae, or castniid moths, is a small family of moths with fewer than 200 species: The majority are Neotropical with some in Australia and a few in south-east Asia. These are medium-sized to very large moths, usually with drab, cryptically-ma ...
**Family
Sesiidae
The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are a diurnal moth family in the order Lepidoptera known for their Batesian mimicry in both appearance and behaviour of various Hymenoptera.
The family consists of 165 genera spread over two subfamilies, contai ...
*Superfamily
Zygaenoidea
The Zygaenoidea comprise the superfamily of moths that includes burnet moths, forester moths, and relatives.
The families are:
* Aididae
* Anomoeotidae
* Cyclotornidae
* Dalceridae
* Epipyropidae
* Heterogynidae
* Himantopteridae
* L ...
**Family
Epipyropidae
The Epipyropidae comprise a small family of moths. This family and the closely related Cyclotornidae are unique among the Lepidoptera in that the larvae are ectoparasites, the hosts typically being fulgoroid planthoppers, thus the common name ...
**Family
Cyclotornidae
**Family
Heterogynidae
**Family
Lacturidae
The Lacturidae comprise a family of moths in the superfamily Zygaenoidea. Brightly coloured tropical moths, the Lacturidae have been previously placed in the Plutellidae, Yponomeutidae
: ''Certain members of the unrelated snout moths (Pyralidae ...
**Family
Phaudidae
**Family
Dalceridae
The Dalceridae are a small family of zygaenoid moths with some 80 known species encompassing about one dozen genera mostly found in the Neotropical region with a few reaching the far south of the Nearctic region.
These are generally small or m ...
**Family
Limacodidae
The Limacodidae or Eucleidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Zygaenoidea or the Cossoidea;Scoble, M.J. (1992). ''The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity.'' Oxford University Press. the placement is in dispute. They are often ca ...
**Family
Megalopygidae
The flannel moths or crinkled flannel moths (scientific name Megalopygidae) are a family of insects. They occur in North America (11 species) and the New World tropics.
Distribution and habitat
The moth occurs in North America and the New World ...
**Family
Aididae
**Family
Somabrachyidae
**Family
Himantopteridae
**Family
Zygaenidae
The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera. The majority of zygaenids are tropical, but they are nevertheless quite well represented in temperate regions. Some of the 1000 or so species are commonly known as burnet or forester moths, oft ...
=Clade
Obtectomera
The Obtectomera is a clade of macro-moths and butterflies, comprising over 100,000 species in at least 12 superfamilies.
Taxonomy
The Obtectomera includes the following 12 superfamilies:
* Whalleyanoidea Minet, 1991
* Thyridoidea Herrich-Sc ...
, encompassing all remaining groups=
*Superfamily
Whalleyanoidea
**Family
Whalleyanidae
*Superfamily
Thyridoidea
**Family
Thyrididae
The Thyrididae comprise the family of picture-winged leaf moths. They are the only family in the superfamily Thyridoidea, which sometimes has been included in the Pyraloidea, but this isn't supported by cladistic analysis.
Most species live in t ...
*Superfamily
Hyblaeoidea
**Family
Hyblaeidae
Hyblaeidae are the "teak moths", a family of insects in the Lepidopteran order. The two genera with about 18 species make up one of the two families of the Hyblaeoidea superfamily (the other family being the monotypic Prodidactidae), which in th ...
*Superfamily
Calliduloidea
**Family
Callidulidae
Callidulidae, the only known family of the superfamily Calliduloidea, is the family of Old World butterfly-moths, containing eight genera. They have a peculiar distribution, restricted to the Old World tropics of Southeast Asia to Australasia a ...
*Superfamily
Papilionoidea
The superfamily Papilionoidea (from the genus '' Papilio'', meaning "butterfly") contains all the butterflies except for the moth-like Hedyloidea.
The members of the Papilionoidea may be distinguished by the following combination of character ...
(butterflies)
**Family
Papilionidae
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the larges ...
**Family
Hedylidae
Hedylidae, the "American moth-butterflies", is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera, representing the superfamily Hedyloidea. They have traditionally been viewed as an extant sister group of the butterfly superfamily Papilionoidea. In 198 ...
**Family
Hesperiidae
Skippers are a family of the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) named the Hesperiidae. Being diurnal, they are generally called butterflies. They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea; however, the most recent taxonomy ...
**Family
Pieridae
The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing about 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and tropical Asia with some varieties in the more northern regions of North America and Eurasia.DeVries P. J. in Levi ...
**Family
Riodinidae
Riodinidae is the family of metalmark butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small, metallic-looking spots commonly found on their wings. The 1532 species are placed in 146 genera. Although mostly Neotropical in distribution, t ...
**Family
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies (behind Nymphalidae, brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfl ...
**Family
Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a red ...
*Superfamily
Pyraloidea
The Pyraloidea (pyraloid moths or snout moths) are a moth superfamily containing about 16,000 described species worldwide, and probably at least as many more remain to be described. They are generally fairly small moths, and as such, they have b ...
**Family
Pyralidae
The Pyralidae, commonly called pyralid moths, snout moths or grass moths, are a family of Lepidoptera in the ditrysian superfamily Pyraloidea. In many (particularly older) classifications, the grass moths (Crambidae) are included in the Pyrali ...
**Family
Crambidae
The Crambidae are the grass moth family of lepidopterans. They are variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae (grass moths) taking up closely folded postures on grass stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies includ ...
*Superfamily
Mimallonoidea
Mimallonidae Burmeister (mimallonids), sometimes known as "sack-bearer" moths for the larval case-building behavior, are a family of Lepidoptera containing over 300 named species in 43 genera. These moths are found only in the New World, with mos ...
**Family
Mimallonidae
=Clade
Macroheterocera
The Macroheterocera are a well supported clade of moths that are closely related to butterflies and other macro-moths.
Taxonomy
The Macroheterocera includes the following superfamilies:
* Mimallonoidea – sack bearers (variously included in b ...
(
Macrolepidoptera
Macrolepidoptera is a group within the insect order Lepidoptera. Traditionally used for the larger butterflies and moths as opposed to the "microlepidoptera", this group is artificial. However, it seems that by moving some taxa about, a monoph ...
''sensu sticto''), encompassing all remaining groups=
![Drymonia ruficornis03](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Drymonia_ruficornis03.jpg)
*Superfamily
Drepanoidea
Drepanoidea is the superfamily of "hook tip moths". See Minet and Scoble (1999) for a comprehensive overview.
References
* Minet, J. and Scoble, M.J. (1999). The Drepanoid/Geometroid Assemblage. Ch. 17 in Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.). ''Lepidoptera, ...
**Family
Cimeliidae
**Family
Doidae
**Family
Drepanidae
The Drepanidae are a family of moths with about 660 species described worldwide. They are generally divided in three subfamilies) which share the same type of hearing organ. Thyatirinae, previously often placed in their own family, bear a super ...
*Superfamily
Lasiocampoidea
The Lasiocampidae are a family of moths also known as eggars, tent caterpillars, snout moths (although this also refers to the Pyralidae), or lappet moths. Over 2,000 species occur worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied. It ...
**Family
Lasiocampidae
The Lasiocampidae are a family of moths also known as eggars, tent caterpillars, snout moths (although this also refers to the Pyralidae), or lappet moths. Over 2,000 species occur worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied. It i ...
*Superfamily
Bombycoidea
Bombycoidea is a superfamily of moths. It contains the silk moths, emperor moths, sphinx moths
The Sphingidae are a family of moths ( Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars ...
**Family
Apatelodidae
Apatelodidae, the American silkworm moths, is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera. They are a family within the superfamily Bombycoidea, though they have in the past been considered a subfamily of Bombycidae.
Distribution
Species ar ...
**Family
Eupterotidae
Eupterotidae is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera with more than 300 described species.
Diversity
The family consists of four subfamilies and the unplaced ''Ganissa group''. The subfamily Eupterotinae consists of about 11 genera, the ...
**Family
Brahmaeidae
Brahmaeidae is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are ...
**Family
Phiditiidae
Phiditiidae is a family of moths. The family used to be placed as a subfamily (Phiditiinae) in the family Bombycidae.
Diversity
The family consists of 4 genera and about 25 species.
Genera
*''Phiditia'' Möschler, 1883
*''Rolepa'' Walker, 1855
...
**Family
Anthelidae
Anthelidae is a family of Australian lappet moths in the order Lepidoptera. It had earlier been considered to be part of the Lasiocampoidea superfamily, but a 2008 molecular phylogenetic study, supported by a 2011 study, resulted in reincluding t ...
**Family
Carthaeidae
The dryandra moth (''Carthaea saturnioides'') is a species of moth that is considered to be the sole member of the family Carthaeidae. Its closest relatives are the Saturniidae and it bears a resemblance to many species of that family, bearing pr ...
**Family
Endromidae
Endromidae is a family of moths. It was long considered to be a monotypic family, containing just one species, the Kentish glory, '' Endromis versicolora'', found throughout the Palaearctic regio The family now consists of several genera and abou ...
**Family
Bombycidae
The Bombycidae are a family of moths. The best-known species is ''Bombyx mori'' (Linnaeus) or silkworm, native to northern China and domesticated for millennia. Another well-known species is ''Bombyx mandarina'', also native to Asia.
Taxonomy
Th ...
**Family
Saturniidae
Saturniidae, commonly known as saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor moths, royal moths, and gi ...
**Family
Sphingidae
The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, bu ...
*Superfamily
Geometroidea
The Geometroidea are the superfamily of geometrid moths in the order Lepidoptera. It includes the families Geometridae, Uraniidae, Epicopeiidae, Sematuridae, and the recently established family Pseudobistonidae.
The monotypic genus ''Apoprogones
...
**Family
Epicopeiidae
Epicopeiidae is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera. They are known as oriental swallowtail moths as they closely resemble some oriental swallowtail butterflies (e.g. red-bodied swallowtails). Epicopeiidae have highly varied structure in ...
**Family
Pseudobistonidae
Pseudobistonidae is a family of Asian moths in the superfamily Geometroidea. It was erected in 2015 and contained '' Pseudobiston pinratanai'' as its only species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic r ...
**Family
Sematuridae
Sematuridae is a family of moths in the lepidopteran order that contains two subfamilies ( Minet and Scoble, 1999).
Taxonomy, systematics, and identification
These are large day- or night-flying moths, usually tailed and similar to Uraniidae ...
**Family
Uraniidae
The Uraniidae are a family of moths containing four subfamilies, 90 genera, and roughly 700 species. The family is distributed throughout the tropics of the Americas, Africa and Indo-Australia.Carter, David, ''Eyewitness Handbook to Butterflies ...
**Family
Geometridae
The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''met ...
*Superfamily
Noctuoidea
Noctuoidea is the superfamily of noctuid (Latin "night owl") or "owlet" moths, and has more than 70,000 described species, the largest number of for any Lepidopteran superfamily. Its classification has not yet reached a satisfactory or stable st ...
**Family
Oenosandridae
Oenosandridae is a family of Australian noctuoid moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thou ...
**Family
Notodontidae
Notodontidae is a family of moths with approximately 3,800 known species. The family was described by James Francis Stephens in 1829. Moths of this family are found in all parts of the world, but they are most concentrated in tropical areas, espe ...
**Family
Erebidae
The Erebidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Noctuoidea. The family is among the largest families of moths by species count and contains a wide variety of well-known macromoth groups. The family includes the underwings ('' Catocala'') ...
**Family
Euteliidae
Euteliidae is a family of moths in the superfamily Noctuoidea. The family was erected by Augustus Radcliffe Grote
Augustus Radcliffe Grote (February 7, 1841 – September 12, 1903) was a British entomologist who described over 1,000 species o ...
**Family
Nolidae
Nolidae is a family of moths with about 1,700 described species worldwide. They are mostly small with dull coloration, the main distinguishing feature being a silk cocoon with a vertical exit slit. The group is sometimes known as tuft moths, aft ...
**Family
Noctuidae
The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...
References
* (Editor). (2008). ''Encyclopedia of Entomology'', (2nd Ed). Springer Reference. ,
Limited previewin Google Books.
*.
* (1995) ''The Lepidoptera: form, function and diversity''. The Oxford University Press, Oxford UK.
Ltd previewin Google Books.
{{Taxonomy of...
Moth taxonomy
Taxonomy
Butterfly taxonomy