Butterflies and Moths
Order Lepidoptera
The Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera) includes 11,813 species across 112 families and 2,787 genera in our directory.
About Butterflies and Moths
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Economic Impact
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Ecological Role
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Families in Lepidoptera (112)
Species in Lepidoptera (11,813)
Ufa senta - Hodges#5894
Ufa senta
Ufeus felsensteini - Hodges# 11052.2
Ufeus felsensteini
Ufeus plicatus - Hodges#11052
Ufeus plicatus
Uhler's Arctic - Hodges#4607
Oeneis uhleri
Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789
Catocala ulalume
Ulophora groteii - Hodges#5900
Ulophora groteii
Umber Moth - Hodges#6439
Hypomecis umbrosaria
Unadorned Carpet Moth
Hydrelia inornata
Unciella flagrantis - Hodges#10112
Unciella flagrantis
Unciella primula - Hodges#10111
Unciella primula
Unclear Dagger Moth - Hodges#9250
Acronicta inclara
Undescribed Canavalia rosea leafminer
Chrysaster on-canavalia
Undescribed Hamelia patens leafminer
Mompha undescribed-species-on-hamelia-patens
Undescribed Lythrum leafminer
Mompha undescribed-species-on-lythrum
Undescribed Perigea Moth - Hodges#9689.96
Perigea undescribed
Undescribed Spermacoce leafminer
Mompha undescribed-species-on-spermacoce
Undescribed eastern Galium leafminer
Mompha undescribed-species-on-galium-eastern
Undescribed midwestern Galium leafminer
Mompha undescribed-species-on-galium-midwestern
Undescribed species on Diodia
Mompha undescribed-species-on-diodia
Undescribed species on Epilobium
Mompha undescribed-species-on-epilobium
Undescribed species on Epilobium canum
Mompha undescribed-species-on-epilobium-canum
Undescribed species on coastal plain staggerbush
Cameraria new-species-on-lyonia-fruticosa
Undulambia rarissima - Hodges#4742
Undulambia rarissima
Undulambia striatalis - Hodges#4740
Undulambia striatalis
Unicorn Caterpillar Moth
Schizura unicornis
Unidentified Marmara on Symplocos tinctoria
Marmara on-symplocos-tinctoria
Uniform Lichen Moth - Hodges#8046
Crambidia uniformis
Unmarked Plume Moth - Hodges#6226
Hellinsia unicolor
Unplaced undescribed
Unplaced undescribed
Unspotted Looper Moth
Allagrapha aerea
Unspotted Tentiform Leafminer Moth - Hodges#0673
Parornix geminatella
Urodeta conocarpi
Urodeta conocarpi
Ursia noctuiformis - Hodges#8002
Ursia noctuiformis
V-lined Quaker Moth - Hodges#10607
Zosteropoda hirtipes
Variable Antepione Moth
Antepione thisoaria
Variable Carpet - Hodges#7329
Anticlea vasiliata
Variable Cracker - Hodges#4541
Hamadryas feronia
Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
Lochmaeus manteo
Variable Reddish Pyrausta - Hodges#5051
Pyrausta rubricalis
Variable Tropic
Hemeroplanis scopulepes
Variable Tussock Moth
Dasychira vagans
Variegated Cutworm Moth
Peridroma saucia
Variegated Fritillary Butterfly
Euptoieta claudia
Variegated Midget - Hodges#9678
Elaphria versicolor
Vashti Sphinx Moth
Sphinx vashti
Veiled Ear Moth - Hodges#9454
Loscopia velata
Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670
Spodoptera latifascia
Venerable Dart Moth
Agrotis venerabilis
Verbena Bud Moth - Hodges#2738
Endothenia hebesana
Viburnum Tubemaker - Hodges#5745
Glyptocera consobrinella
Viceroy
Limenitis archippus
Viereck's Skipper - Hodges#4083
Atrytonopsis vierecki
Vine Sphinx Moth
Eumorpha vitis
Vinemina catalina - Hodges#6636
Vinemina catalina
Vinemina perdita - Hodges#6634
Vinemina perdita
Viola's Giant-Skipper
Megathymus violae
Violet Dart Moth - Hodges#10810
Euxoa violaris
Violet-banded Skipper - Hodges#4123
Nyctelius nyctelius
Violet-clouded Skipper - Hodges#4112
Lerodea arabus
Violet-patched Skipper - Hodges#3992
Monca crispinus
Virbia costata - Hodges#8115
Virbia costata
Virbia marginata - Hodges#8121.1
Virbia marginata
Virbia ostenta - Hodges#8116
Virbia ostenta
Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8197
Apantesis virgo
Virginia Creeper Sphinx
Darapsa myron
Virginia Ctenucha Moth
Ctenucha virginica
Virginian Tiger Moth
Spilosoma virginica
Vitula aegerella - Hodges#6009.1
Vitula aegerella
Vitula insula - Hodges#6009.2
Vitula insula
Vitula pinei - Hodges#6009
Vitula pinei
Vitula setonella - Hodges#6010
Vitula setonella
Walker's Epinotia Moth
Epinotia transmissana
Walker's Metalmark - Hodges#4406
Apodemia walkeri
Walnut Caterpillar Moth
Datana intergerrima
Walnut Shoot Moth - Hodges#5674
Acrobasis demotella
Walnut Sphinx Moth
Amorpha juglandis
Walshia dispar - Hodges#1620
Walshia dispar
Walshia elegans - Hodges#1614
Walshia elegans
Walshia exemplata - Hodges#1618
Walshia exemplata
Walshia floridensis - Hodges#1617
Walshia floridensis
Walterella ocellata - Hodges#9830
Walterella ocellata
Wandering Brocade Moth
Fishia illocata
Wandering skipper - Hodges#4118
Panoquina errans
Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889
Lithophane petulca
Warm-chevroned Moth
Tortricidia testacea
Washakie's Pero - Hodges#6760.1
Pero washakiensis
Washed-out Zale - Hodges#8707
Zale metatoides
Water Willow Stem Borer - Hodges#9467
Papaipema sulphurata
Waterlily Leafcutter Moth
Elophila obliteralis
Waterlily Moth - Hodges#9056
Homophoberia cristata
Wave Moth -L. hepaticaria
Leptostales hepaticaria
Waved Sphinx Moth
Ceratomia undulosa
Wavy-lined Emerald Moth
Synchlora aerata
Wavy-lined Heterocampa
Heterocampa biundata
Weidemeyer's Admiral Butterfly
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Welderella parvella - Hodges#5964
Welderella parvella
Wenzel's Pitch-blister Moth - Hodges#2891
Retinia virginiana
West Coast Lady Butterfly
Vanessa annabella
Western Avocado Leafroller - Hodges#3749
Amorbia cuneanum
Western Bean Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10878
Striacosta albicosta