Page 648 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

CLASSIFICATION

of the LEPIDOPTERA

When the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus first classified ORDER LEPIDOPTERA
Lepidoptera in his Systema Naturae (1758), he divided them
into just three genera. His genus Papilio included all known Unassigned early lepidopterans
butterflies, while large hovering hawkmoths were placed in Family Archaeolepidae [1]
the genus Sphinx, and the rest of the moths in the genus Family Mesokristenseniidae [3]
Phalaena, which Linnaeus divided into seven subgroups. Family Eolepidopterigidae [1]
Family Undopterigidae [1]
By contrast, the classification table shown here (based on
van Nieukerken et al., 2011) lists 45 superfamilies and Suborder Zeugloptera
137 families that today contain about 16,000 genera with superfamily micropterigoidea
an estimated 160,000 named species (the number of species Family Micropterigidae [160]
646
in each family appears in square brackets). The 37 families
marked with an asterisk (*) are represented in this book; Suborder Aglossata
most of the others are comprised of obscure and tiny moth superfamily agathiphagoidea
species, whose larval life cycle is frequently unknown. Family Agathiphagidae [2]
The system initiated by Linnaeus is being continuously Suborder Heterobathmiina
refined as scientists seek to establish a classification that superfamily heterobathmioidea
reflects the evolutionary history of Lepidoptera, which began Family Heterobathmiidae [3]
approximately 200 million years ago and continues today.
The few available Lepidoptera fossils help indicate how early Suborder Glossata
certain defining characteristics were present. For instance, superfamily eriocranioidea
some primitive moths living now have chewing mandibles Family Eriocraniidae [29]
instead of a proboscis and feed on a solid diet such as fern
spores, as did the small moth of the earliest known fossil, superfamily acanthopteroctetoidea
dating back some 190 million years. From fossils of host Family Acanthopteroctetidae [5]
plant leaves, it is also hypothesized that many Lepidoptera
were initially tiny “leafminers,” whose larvae tunneled through superfamily lophocoronoidea
the mesophyll layer of a leaf, as caterpillars of Leucoptera Family Lophocoronidae [6]
erythrinella and many other species still do now. The oldest
known skipper (Hesperiidae) butterfly fossil is 56 million superfamily neopseustoidea
years old, and other 30 to 40 million-year-old fossilized Family Neopseustidae [14]
butterflies, while representing extinct species, share many
traits with their present-day relatives. superfamily mnesarchaeoidea
Family Mnesarchaeidae [7]
Taxonomists use various means for defining species, such as
morphology (internal and external structural features), DNA superfamily hepialoidea
sequences, and ecology (how a species interacts with its Family Palaeosetidae [9]
surroundings). Each new species receives a two-part name, Family Prototheoridae [12]
for example, “Danaus plexippus”—the first part reflecting its Family Neotheoridae [1]
genus and the second the species within that genus. The Family Anomosetidae [1]
author and year of its original description may also appear, Family Hepialidae [606]
such as “(Linnaeus, 1758)”—in parentheses because
Linnaeus originally placed this species, the Monarch butterfly, superfamily nepticuloidea
in the genus Papilio, and it was later assigned the genus Family Nepticulidae [819]
name Danaus. Square brackets in an author citation indicate Family Opostegidae [192]
uncertainties about the author or date of description.
superfamily andesianoidea
The classification of Lepidoptera remains very much a work
in progress, with thousands of species still to be described. Family Andesianidae [3]
Despite the general advancement of science, according to
Professor James Mallet, who was awarded the prestigious superfamily adeloidea
Darwin–Wallace Medal for major advances in evolutionary Family Heliozelidae [123]
biology, there is still “no easy way to tell whether related Family Adelidae [294]
geographic or temporal forms belong to the same or different Family Incurvariidae [51]
species.” His insight, which comes from studying evolution in Family Cecidosidae [16]
Heliconius butterflies, echoes Darwin himself, who better than Family Prodoxidae [98]
most understood the enormity of the taxonomist’s task.
superfamily palaephatoidea
Family Palaephatidae [57]