Macrolepidoptera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Macrolepidoptera |
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| Grey dagger, Acronicta psi | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Glossata
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Heteroneura
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Macrolepidoptera
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Macrolepidoptera is a special group of insects within the Lepidoptera order. This order includes all moths and butterflies. Long ago, "Macrolepidoptera" was just a general name for larger moths. But now, scientists have made it a proper group.
This new group is called "monophyletic." This means all the insects in the Macrolepidoptera group share a single common ancestor. And the group includes all the descendants of that ancestor. It helps scientists understand how these amazing insects are related to each other.
What Are Macrolepidoptera?
Macrolepidoptera are mostly larger moths and all butterflies. They are part of the huge insect family. These insects go through a full life cycle with four stages. They start as an egg, then become a larva (caterpillar), then a pupa, and finally an adult moth or butterfly.
Different Types of Macrolepidoptera
The Macrolepidoptera group is divided into smaller groups called superfamilies. Think of a superfamily as a big family that includes many smaller families of moths and butterflies. Here are the main superfamilies in Macrolepidoptera:
- Mimallonoidea – These are often called sack bearers.
- Lasiocampoidea – Known as lappet moths.
- Bombycoidea – These are bombycoid moths, like the silkworm moth.
- Noctuoidea – Often called owlet moths.
- Drepanoidea – These are drepanids.
- Geometroidea – Known as inchworms or geometer moths.
- Axioidea – These are European gold moths.
- Calliduloidea – Called Old World butterfly-moths.
- Hedyloidea – These are New World butterfly-moths, sometimes called moth-butterflies.
- Hesperioidea – These are the skippers, a type of butterfly.
- Papilionoidea – These are the true butterflies.
The last three superfamilies listed above – Calliduloidea, Hedyloidea, and Papilionoidea – together form a group called Rhopalocera. This is the scientific name for all the true butterflies we know and love.
See also
In Spanish: Macrolepidoptera para niños
