Macrolepidoptera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009) |
| Macrolepidoptera | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Grey Dagger, Acronicta psi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Hexapoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Suborder: | Glossata |
| Infraorder: | Heteroneura |
| (unranked): | Macrolepidoptera |
| Superfamilies | |
|
See text |
|
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 unnatural. However, it seems that by moving some taxa about, a monophyletic Macrolepidoptera can be easily achieved. The two superfamilies Geometroidea and Noctuoidea account for roughly one-quarter of all known Lepidoptera.[citation needed]
In the reformed Macrolepidoptera, the following superfamilies are included:
- Mimallonoidea - sack bearers
- Lasiocampoidea - lappet moths
- Bombycoidea - bombycoid moths
- Noctuoidea - owlet moths
- Drepanoidea - drepanids
- Geometroidea - inchworms
- Axioidea - European gold moths
- Calliduloidea - Old World butterfly-moths
- Hedyloidea - New World butterfly-moths (or moth-butterflies)
- Hesperioidea - skippers
- Papilionoidea - true butterflies
The last three make up the Rhopalocera, or butterflies.
[edit] External links
- "Macrolepidoptera". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=117234.
Media related to Macrolepidoptera at Wikimedia Commons 
Data related to Macrolepidoptera at Wikispecies
