Adjacent Words

Lepidoptera definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: moths and butterflies [syn: Lepidoptera, order Lepidoptera]

Merriam Webster's

noun plural Date: circa 1773 insects that are lepidopterans

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Insecta In*sec"ta, n. pl. [NL. See Insect.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) One of the classes of Arthropoda, including those that have one pair of antenn[ae], three pairs of mouth organs, and breathe air by means of trache[ae], opening by spiracles along the sides of the body. In this sense it includes the Hexapoda, or six-legged insects and the Myriapoda, with numerous legs. See Insect, n. 2. (Zo["o]l.) In a more restricted sense, the Hexapoda alone. See Hexapoda. 3. (Zo["o]l.) In the most general sense, the Hexapoda, Myriapoda, and Arachnoidea, combined. Note: The typical Insecta, or hexapod insects, are divided into several orders, viz.: Hymenoptera, as the bees and ants; Diptera, as the common flies and gnats; Aphaniptera, or fleas; Lepidoptera, or moths and butterflies; Neuroptera, as the ant-lions and hellgamite; Coleoptera, or beetles; Hemiptera, as bugs, lice, aphids; Orthoptera, as grasshoppers and cockroaches; Pseudoneuroptera, as the dragon flies and termites; Euplexoptera, or earwings; Thysanura, as the springtails, podura, and lepisma. See these words in the Vocabulary.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Lepidoptera Lep`i*dop"te*ra (-d[o^]p"t[-e]*r[.a]), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. lepi`s -i`dos, a scale + ptero`n a feather, wing.] (Zo["o]l.) An order of insects, which includes the butterflies and moths. They have broad wings, covered with minute overlapping scales, usually brightly colored. Note: They have a tubular proboscis, or haustellum, formed by the two slender maxill[ae]. The labial palpi are usually large, and the proboscis, when not in use, can be coiled up spirally between them. The mandibles are rudimentary. The larv[ae], called caterpillars, are often brightly colored, and they commonly feed on leaves. The adults feed chiefly on the honey of flowers.