Lepidoptera [scale wing]

 

moths & butterflies

~150,000 (300,000) species (85% moths)

 

        

                                                                       "Pass the potatoes."

                            butterfly      moth

                   body           thin              thick

                   wings          vertical        flat

                   antennae     clubbed        often filament-like (feathery), esp. males

                   pupae          no cocoon     cocoon

                   flight           usually day    usually twilight – night

                                    

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Characteristics (click to expand/collapse)

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complete metamorphosis

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wings fore & hind with overlapping scales, ♀ sometimes wingless

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mouth (click to expand/collapse)

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adult is sucking (or absent)

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larva is chewing (defoliators)

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silk is drawn from the salivary glands; used for webbing (tents), spinning down and cocoons

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larvae are called caterpillars and have 3 pairs of jointed legs (will become the adult legs) plus 5 more pair of pro-legs (also false-legs, they are squishy and un-jointed)

 

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Forestry Application: (click to expand/collapse)

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defoliators - very damaging, # 2 in BC (sometimes #1 in Canada) (click to expand/collapse)

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Douglas-fir tussock moth

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western (spruce) budworm

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black-headed budworm

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hemlock looper

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gypsy moth