What is the meaning of Lepidopterous?
adjective. belonging or pertaining to the Lepidoptera, an order of insects comprising the butterflies, moths, and skippers, that in the adult state have four membranous wings more or less covered with small scales.
What are the caterpillar larva?
caterpillar, larva of a butterfly or moth (Lepidoptera). Most caterpillars have cylindrical bodies consisting of multiple segments, with three pairs of true legs on the thorax and several pairs of short, fleshy prolegs on the abdomen.
What is a moth larvae called?
Both moth and butterfly larvae are commonly called caterpillars. They grow by shedding their skin.
What is the primary function of lepidopteran larvae?
The larva is the chief, and often the only, feeding stage of the life cycle. Its function is simply to transform very large quantities of plant matter into animal matter and to stay alive during the process.
What is the meaning of isoptera?
: an order of social insects consisting of the termites.
Is caterpillar a pest?
Caterpillars are a major pest to vegetable crops as they are voracious feeders and cause extensive damage to leaves and fruits of crops they feed on. They usually thrive in warm conditions, with pest pressure increasing during the summer months.
Why are they called caterpillars?
* Caterpillar — The French thought this fuzzy fellow looked like a hairy cat, so they called it a “chatepelose,” “chat” meaning “cat,” and “pelose” meaning “hairy.”
Do larvae turn into moths?
The tiny, nearly-invisible eggs come into your house in food packages, and they can hatch into larvae which later turn into moths that wreak havoc on your foodstuffs.
What are the features associated with lepidopteran larvae?
The larvae, called caterpillars, have a toughened head capsule. Caterpillars lack the proboscis and have separate chewing mouthparts. These mouthparts, called mandibles, are used to chew up the plant matter that the larvae eat. The lower jaw, or labium, is weak, but may carry a spinneret, an organ used to create silk.
How long is a monarch in the larvae stage?
3-5 days
They move much farther and faster than other instars, and are often found far from milkweed plants as they seek a site for pupating. Time in this larval stage is usually 3-5 days, temperature dependent.
What is the meaning of the word Lepidoptera?
noun Also: lepidopteron plural -terans or -tera (-tərə) any of numerous insects of the order Lepidoptera, typically having two pairs of wings covered with fragile scales, mouthparts specialized as a suctorial proboscis, and caterpillars as larvae: comprises the butterflies and moths.
What are the four stages of the lepidopteran life cycle?
The name Lepidoptera is derived from the Greek, meaning “scaly winged,” and refers to the characteristic covering of microscopic dustlike scales on the wings. The life cycle of lepidopterans consists of four stages: egg, larva ( caterpillar ), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (imago).
How are lepidopterans different from butterflies and moths?
The skippers are a worldwide group intermediate between butterflies and moths. With the exception of a few moths, all adult lepidopterans have two pairs of wings. The name Lepidoptera is derived from the Greek, meaning “scaly winged,” and refers to the characteristic covering of microscopic dustlike scales on the wings.
How many pairs of wings does a lepidopteran have?
With the exception of a few moths, all adult lepidopterans have two pairs of wings. The name Lepidoptera is derived from the Greek, meaning “scaly winged,” and refers to the characteristic covering of microscopic dustlike scales on the wings.