Lepidoptera

[ lep-i-dop-ter-uh ]

noun

1. the order comprising the lepidopterous insects.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lepidoptera¹

1725–35; < New Latin; plural of lepidopteron

Example Sentences

When Muhammad Ali said, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” he may have had Cooke in mind on the Lepidoptera front.

From The Daily Beast

Collectors of lepidoptera rose in shoals to the printed offer of luna moths measuring ten and eleven inches across the wings.

From Project Gutenberg

The larv of one genus (Panorpa) are remarkable for their great resemblance to the larv of Lepidoptera.

From Project Gutenberg

The beating net is an important instrument for collecting all insects excepting mature Lepidoptera, which are apt to get rubbed.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand, our knowledge of the earlier states of Coleoptera is yet very imperfect as compared with the Lepidoptera.

From Project Gutenberg

The larv of Lepidoptera found late in the fall are very apt to be parasitized, and should be collected and kept over the winter.

From Project Gutenberg