Moths and butterflies belong to the same order lepidoptera insects.
Black-veined golden-spotted butterfly and moon-tailed silkworm moth
Lepidoptera insects first appeared in the Jurassic Period, about 200 million years ago. In the meantime, they evolved to form many characteristics that distinguish them from other taxa of insects. The most typical of these are:
Most of the adult lepidoptera are scaled on the front and back wings of their membranous bodies and on the surface of their bodies. It is precisely because of the differences in the structure and distribution of these scales that the various moths and butterflies in nature show a colorful color. Lepidoptera is named after the membranous wings of this class of insects. In Lepidoptera , only a few species of wings are degenerate or wingless.
【Siphon mouthpiece】Except for a few moths, the mouthparts of the vast majority of lepidoptera adults are siphon mouthpieces. Located under the head, this mouthpiece is a beak that bends and stretches, suitable for sucking nectar at the bottom of the flower tube.
[Complete metamorphosis] Like many insects, lepidoptera moths and butterflies are completely metamorphosed insects. That is to say, in their lifetime, they undergo 4 changes in the state of the worm, namely eggs, larvae, pupae and adult worms. There are significant differences between lepidopteran larvae and adults in terms of morphology, physiology and habits.
The larvae of Lepidoptera are mostly long-barreled, called caterpillars in English and caterpillars in Chinese. However, "caterpillars" are generally translated as "lepidoptera larvae" because many species of larvae are hairless. Lepidoptera larvae have a well-developed and stiff head and a softer thorax and abdomen. The thorax has 3 pairs of pectoral feet, and the abdomen has 0 to 5 pairs of gastropods, also called prolegs. Larval mouthparts (mandible mouth parts). After several ages of growth, the larvae enter the pupal stage. The butterfly pupae are called chrysalis. A few species of many moths will spit out cocoons when pupating, while those that do not have cocoons mostly choose to pupate in the soil. After a certain period of growth and development, the pupae feather into a fully mature moth or butterfly. After male and female mating, females often choose to lay eggs on the hosts of their larvae. For example, small cabbage moths and butterfly that feed on cruciferous flowers, they mostly choose to lay eggs on cruciferous plants.