Butterflies and moths: insects with two pairs of wings covered in tiny, overlapping scales that produce their color and pattern, and, in most species, a coiled, tube-like proboscis used to drink nectar. Lepidoptera larvae (caterpillars) are among the most significant plant-feeding insects in most terrestrial ecosystems.
Facts
Disputed
Member Species/Taxa CountApproximate described-species (or, for a genus, described-taxon) count; continually revised as species are newly described, reclassified or synonymized. Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Connections
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