Moths and Butterflies

(Nymphalidae) Spread throughout the world, this family includes about 7,080 described species. Its presence in the world is estimated at more than 8000 species. Adults are medium to big in size and they are mainly diurnal. However, some species are crepuscular. Larvae are herbivorous feeding mainly on foliage and they gather together in some species. There are many plants that can be targeted by their attacks including toxic plants. Adults of some species contain fluorides, making them unsuitable for consumption, including predatory animals such as birds and amphibians. In addition to that, those species of butterflies have bright colours, external signs of toxicity that discourage predators from attacking them.

(Geometridae) This family is the second largest family of the Lepidoptera order after the Noctuidae family. It exists in all main areas of the world and includes more than 21,150 described species. The number of its species is estimated at more than 26,500 globally. In the new tropical areas, India and Australia, this family is more diversified, having more than 6,500 and 6,670 described species respectively. Adults can be small or big. In many genera, females have short preliminary wings (Brachypterous) or can be without wings. Adults mainly fly during in the night but many species are crepuscular or diurnal. Larvae are herbivorous and feed mainly on foliage. Their diet is so diversified and includes most plant families. Many species are known to cause great damages to agriculture.

(Lycaenidae) This family is spread all over the world and includes about 6,000 described species. The tropical region alone has 2,125 described species. Specialists estimate the number of species of this family in the world at more than 7,000. Adults are of small to medium size. They are mainly diurnal but some species are crepuscular, whereas others fly only in the dark forests. Larvae don’t resemble caterpillar as they can draw back their heads inside their thoraces. Many species are herbivorous attacking foliage, whereas some feed on other parts of leaves. Many species live in ant nests (Myrmecophilous) and they develop inside the nests as parasites. Some larvae of this family are carnivores feeding on ant larvae or the Hemiptera order. Species that feed on plants attack many plant families. However, Fagaceae and Leguminuceae families are affected the most. Some species are known to cause damage to agriculture.

(Crambidae) This is a large family of the Lepidoptera order including about 11,630 species spread throughout world. Recently it has been separated from the Pyralidae family. Adults vary in appearance, depending on the subfamilies. They can be pale and distinct or having colourful patterns on wings. Adults are mainly active in the night. They can be seen on weeds but larvae of some species feed on grape leaves and different water plants such as water lilies. Many species are parasitical and consume a large number of plants essential for human food and animal resources, such as corn, sugar cane, rice and various herbs and pastoral plants.

(Sphingidae) This family includes about 1,450 species spread all over the world. Butterflies are medium to big in size (25 - 125 mm), and their body is big and fusiform. Their forewings are long and narrow and antennae are usually filiform but thick at the top. Butterflies can fly fast. While some species fly during the day, most of them are active at sunset or dusk. The fully grown insects feed on flower nectar. Larvae of most species have a clear horn or an appendage like a thorn on the upper surface of their eighth abdominal segment. Larvae attack crops and trees. Most species of this family are not important economically.

(Gracillariidae) This family of the Lepidoptera order includes most leaf-mining species. Spread all over the world, this family is estimated to have more than 6,000 species. More than 1,740 species have been described. Adult are small and diurnal. Larvae are generally leaf-miners and infect foliage. During their growth, larvae have well-developed legs in the final stages of their metamorphosis. They feed on foliage sap in their first stages. Sometimes their diet changes in their last stages of their growth to consume the meaty parts of leaves and attack many plant species. It is known that some species of this family cause damages to agriculture, especially citrus.

(Noctuidae) Including more than 26,300 described species available all over the world; it is the biggest family of the Lepidoptera order. It is estimated to have more than 30,000 species worldwide. In the new tropical areas and between India and Australia, this family is more diversified as it includes 8,600 and 6,500 described species respectively. Adults can be small or very big depending on the species and they are mainly nocturnal. While some are crepuscular, a few are diurnal. Larvae are herbivorous feeding mostly on foliage. Most of the species are leaf-miners. Host plants are so diversified but the diet of many of those butterflies is still unknown. Some species of this family are agricultural pests.

(Pyralidae) This family includes currently about 6,150 described species. Until recently, the Crambidae family had been listed in this family. It is found all over the world and many of its species were introduced in different areas of the world through international grain, fruit and vegetable trade. Depending on the species, adults can be small or big. While they are nocturnal, some are crepuscular and rarely diurnal. Most species are butterflies (moths). Larvae attack foliage or puncture different parts of plants, whereas other species target roots. There are also many leaf-mining species affecting many different species of plants. Some larvae live on garbage and attack stored materials. In rare cases, some species live in colonies of Myrmecophilous ants and they are seen even in water. It is known that many of the species of this family them are pests of agricultural crops.

(Papilionidae) This global family of small butterflies includes slightly less than 600 described species. The Indo-Australian region alone includes 250 described species. They are big butterflies. This family contains the biggest species of the Lepidoptera order, including Ornithopter from the Indo-Australian region. Adults can be seen flying. Larvae are herbivorous feeding mainly on foliage. They have a gland behind their head producing defensive aromatic materials whose flow in this part of the body can cause the appearance of an erecting organ. Those species gather on a wide spectrum of plants such as Nymphalidae. Some eat toxic plants whereas other species are known to cause damages to agriculture, especially crops and citrus.

(Arctiidae) This large family of butterflies is spread throughout the world and includes about 11,160 species, a large number of which (about 6,000 species) exist in tropical regions. Depending on the species, adults can be small or big. For many adult groups, the rear wings are small. Adults fly mainly during the night but many species are crepuscular or diurnal. Larvae are herbivorous and feed on many types of foliage.

(Nolidae) This family includes about 1,400 described species spread all over the world. Most of them are small and pale in colour, characterized by the existence of tufts of scales on the front wings. Larvae are pale having tufts of short hair.

(Pieridae) Found in all major regions of the world, this family includes slightly less than 1,300 described species. Most species, that is about 515 species, live in the Indo-Australian region. Adults are small or big in size and their colour is white mixed with yellow or orange, usually with black spots on their wings. They can be seen flying during the day. Like most larvae families of the Lepidoptera order, larvae are herbivorous consuming mainly foliage and attacking different groups from plants. Many known species cause damage to agriculture, especially the crops of the Cruciferae family such as cabbage.