lepidopterous insect

/ˈlɛpəˌdɑptərəs ˌɪnˈsɛkt/

Other forms: lepidopterous insects

Definitions of lepidopterous insect

1. noun

   insect that in the adult state has four wings more or less covered with tiny scales
   synonyms: lepidopteran, lepidopteron

   types:

   butterfly

   diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings

   moth

   typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

   brush-footed butterfly, four-footed butterfly, nymphalid, nymphalid butterfly

   medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast

   ringlet, ringlet butterfly

   any of various butterflies belonging to the family Satyridae

   danaid, danaid butterfly

   large tropical butterfly with degenerate forelegs and an unpleasant taste

   pierid, pierid butterfly

   any of numerous pale-colored butterflies having three pairs of well-developed legs

   sulfur butterfly, sulphur butterfly

   any of numerous yellow or orange butterflies

   lycaenid, lycaenid butterfly

   any of various butterflies of the family Lycaenidae

   miller, moth miller

   any of various moths that have powdery wings

   tortricid, tortricid moth

   any of numerous small moths having lightly fringed wings; larvae are leaf rollers or live in fruits and galls

   lymantriid, tussock moth

   dull-colored moth whose larvae have tufts of hair on the body and feed on the leaves of many deciduous trees

   geometrid, geometrid moth

   slender-bodied broad-winged moth whose larvae are called measuring worms

   pyralid, pyralid moth

   usually tropical slender-bodied long-legged moth whose larvae are crop pests

   tineoid, tineoid moth

   small dull-colored moth with chewing mouthparts

   gelechiid, gelechiid moth

   small slender-winged moths whose larvae are agricultural pests

   noctuid, noctuid moth, owlet moth

   usually dull-colored medium-sized nocturnal moth; the usually smooth-bodied larvae are destructive agricultural pests

   hawk moth, hawkmoth, hummingbird moth, sphingid, sphinx moth

   any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed

   bombycid, bombycid moth, silkworm moth

   moderate-sized Asiatic moth whose larvae feed on mulberry leaves and produce silk

   saturniid, saturniid moth

   large brightly colored and usually tropical moth; larvae spin silken cocoons

   arctiid, arctiid moth

   stout-bodied broad-winged moth with conspicuously striped or spotted wings; larvae are hairy caterpillars

   lasiocampid, lasiocampid moth

   medium-sized stout-bodied neutral-colored moths with comb-like antennae

   Malacosoma americana, tent-caterpillar moth

   moth whose larvae are tent caterpillars

   type of:

   insect

   a small creature with six legs, three body fragments, two antennae, and usually wings belonging in the Arthropoda phylum