List of Lepidoptera of Puerto Rico facts for kids

Location of Puerto Rico

The Lepidoptera of Puerto Rico are all the amazing butterflies and moths found on the island of Puerto Rico. These insects are known for their beautiful wings and incredible life cycles.

Scientists believe there are around 1,000 different kinds of Lepidoptera species living in Puerto Rico. This makes the island a very special place for these winged creatures!

Butterflies of Puerto Rico

Butterflies are often seen flying during the day, showing off their bright colors. They play an important role in nature, especially by helping plants make seeds (this is called pollination!). Puerto Rico is home to many different butterfly families.

Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Skippers are a type of butterfly that often look a bit like moths. They have thick bodies and their antennae usually have a hook at the end. They are called "skippers" because of their fast, darting flight. Many species of skippers live in Puerto Rico, including the Achlyodes thraso sagra and the Urbanus proteus domingo.

Blues and Hairstreaks (Lycaenidae)

This family includes small, delicate butterflies. Many of them have shiny blue or copper colors on their wings. Some even have tiny "tails" on their hindwings, which look a bit like antennae to trick predators! Examples found here are the Leptotes cassius theonus and various Strymon species.

Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

The Nymphalidae family is one of the largest butterfly families. They are called "brush-footed" because their front legs are very small and hairy, almost like brushes. This group includes many well-known butterflies like the Monarch. In Puerto Rico, you can find species such as the Danaus plexippus plexippus (Monarch butterfly), the colorful Dryas iulia iulia, and the striking Heliconius charitonius charitonius (Zebra Longwing).

Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae)

Swallowtails are usually large, colorful butterflies. Many of them have tail-like extensions on their hindwings, which look like the tails of swallows. These butterflies are often very beautiful and easy to spot. Puerto Rico is home to species like the Battus polydamas thyamus and different types of Papilio butterflies.

Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)

Butterflies in the Pieridae family are mostly white, yellow, or orange. They are often seen flying in open fields and gardens. They are very common and important pollinators. Some examples from Puerto Rico include the Ascia monuste eubotea and several Eurema species, often called "sulphurs" because of their yellow color.

Moths of Puerto Rico

Moths are another large group of Lepidoptera. While butterflies are usually active during the day, most moths are nocturnal, meaning they fly at night. Moths come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny ones to very large and fuzzy ones!

Tiny Moths (Nepticulidae, Tischeriidae, Tineidae, Acrolophidae, Psychidae, Lyonetiidae, Gracilariidae, Ethmiidae, Alucitidae, Blastobasidae, Coleophoridae, Batrachedridae, Cosmopterygidae, Oecophoridae, Gelechiidae, Glyphipterygidae, Yponomeutidae, Heliodinidae, Cossidae, Schistonoeidae, Elachistidae, Tortricidae)

Puerto Rico has many families of smaller moths, each with unique features. For example, the Leucoptera coffeella (Lyonetiidae) is a tiny moth whose caterpillars can cause damage to coffee plants. The Phyllocnistis citrella (Gracilariidae) is known as the citrus leafminer because its larvae tunnel through citrus leaves.

The Plutella xylostella (Yponomeutidae) is a common moth found worldwide, sometimes called the diamondback moth. The Psychonoctua personalis (Cossidae) is a larger moth that bores into trees.

The Pectinophora gossypiella (Gelechiidae) is known as the pink bollworm, a pest of cotton. The Sitotroga cerealella (Gelechiidae) is a grain moth that can be found in stored grains.

The Tortricidae family includes many moths whose caterpillars roll leaves or bore into fruits. Puerto Rico has many species from this group, like the Crocidosema plebejana.

Giant Moths (Megalopygidae, Crambidae, Pyralidae, Limacodidae, Thyrididae, Hyblaeidae, Pterophoridae, Geometridae, Epiplemidae, Sphingidae, Notodontidae, Erebidae, Euteliidae, Nolidae, Noctuidae)

Puerto Rico is also home to many larger and more noticeable moth families.

Flannel Moths (Megalopygidae)

These moths are often very hairy and look like a piece of flannel. Their caterpillars are also very hairy and can cause a stinging sensation if touched. An example is Megalopyge krugii.

Snout Moths (Crambidae and Pyralidae)

These two families are very large and diverse. Many of them have a "snout" formed by their mouthparts. They include species that can be pests to crops, but also many beautiful ones. For instance, the Diatraea saccharalis (Crambidae) is a sugarcane borer. The Galleria mellonella (Pyralidae) is known as the greater wax moth, often found in beehives.

Plume Moths (Pterophoridae)

Plume moths have very distinctive wings that are divided into feather-like plumes. They look quite different from other moths. You can find species like Exelastis pumilio and Lantanophaga pusillidactylus in Puerto Rico.

Looper Moths (Geometridae)

Geometer moths are often called "loopers" or "inchworms" in their caterpillar stage because of how they move. They look like they are measuring the ground as they walk. Many species are found in Puerto Rico, including the Epimecis hortaria.

Hawk Moths (Sphingidae)

Hawk moths are large, strong-flying moths, often mistaken for hummingbirds because they hover over flowers. They have long, narrow wings and can fly very fast. Some well-known species in Puerto Rico are the Agrius cingulata (Pink-spotted Hawkmoth) and the Manduca sexta (Tobacco Hornworm moth).

Prominent Moths (Notodontidae)

These moths often have tufts of hair or "prominences" on their wings or bodies. They are usually medium to large in size.

Tiger Moths and Underwing Moths (Erebidae)

The Erebidae family is huge and includes many different types of moths, like the colorful tiger moths and the large underwing moths. Tiger moths often have bright patterns, sometimes to warn predators that they are toxic. The Utetheisa ornatrix (Ornate Bella Moth) is a beautiful example. The Ascalapha odorata (Black Witch) is a very large, dark moth often associated with folklore.

Owlet Moths (Noctuidae)

The Noctuidae family is one of the largest moth families in the world. They are often dull-colored, but some have bright hindwings. Many caterpillars in this family are known as cutworms or armyworms, which can be agricultural pests. Examples include various Spodoptera species like the Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall Armyworm).

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