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Butterflies and moths fall under the suborder of Rhopalocera, which is from the order Lepidoptera. There are about 17,500 species of butterflies identified till date. Butterflies are flying insects that have enormous, scaly wings with six jointed legs and three body parts, which are the head, thorax, and abdomen. The wings of the butterflies are connected to the thorax with a pair of antennae, compound eyes and an exoskeleton. And the scientific name of Butterfly is Rhopalocera.
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Key Terms: Butterfly, Rhopalocera, Lepidoptera, Moths, Genus, Exoskeleton, Herbivores, Taxonomy, Kingdom, Phylum
Scientific Name of Butterfly
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Butterflies are insects that fall under the suborder Rhopalocera, from the order Lepidoptera, also including moths. Butterflies fall under the category of insects and have large scaly wings, jointed legs and a total of three body parts: the head (upper body), thorax (middle body) and abdomen (tail body). Butterfly scientific name is Rhopalocera. There are almost about 20,000 species of butterflies. The ability of butterflies to coil up their proboscis makes their species different from other insects.
Facts about Butterfly
There are several facts about butterflies. Some include:
| Facts | Classification |
|---|---|
| Prey | Nectar, Honey, Pollen |
| Species | Almost 17,500 – 20,000 |
| Habitat | Forests, Pastures |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Classification of Butterfly
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Butterflies can be classified as:
| Type | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
Family of Butterfly
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There are several families of Butterfly, including:
Hesperiidae
One major example includes Skippers.
Lycaenidae
Examples include Gossamer-winged butterflies (Coppers, Hairstreaks, and Blues).
Nymphalidae
Some of the examples of Brush-footed Butterflies (Satyrs, Monarchs, Emperors, Milkweeds, Longwings).
Papilionidae
One of the examples include Swallowtails (Black Swallowtails and Tiger swallowtail).
Pieridae
One of the major examples include Whites and Sulphurs (Psyche butterfly, Cabbage white, Orange-tip, Cloudless sulphur).
Riodinidae
One example is Metalmarks.
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Previous Year Questions
- Which of the following taxonomic categories of housefly is… (KEAM)
- Which of the following is not an attribute of a population … (NEET 2020)
- A biologist studied the population of rats in a barn … (NEET 2013)
- Bladderworm/cysticercus is the larval stage of… (NEET 1991)
- Edaphology is… (KCET 2007)
- A sedentary sea anemone gets attached … (NEET 2013)
- Read the statements given below and identify the incorrect statement… (KCET 2012)
- Quercus species are the dominant component in … (NEET 2008)
- The process of growth is maximum during … (NEET 2020)
- Small mammals and birds are rarely found in polar regions … (KCET 2021)
- Which one of the following statements about certain given animals is correct?... (NEET 2010)
- Which of the following organisms possesses characteristics of a plant and an animal? (NEET 1995)
- Which one of the following is oviparous?... (NEET 2015)
Things to Remember
- The scientific name of butterfly is Rhopalocera.
- The capability of butterflies to coil up their proboscis helps make their species different from other insects.
- Butterfly belongs to the phylum Arthropoda.
- Butterflies are usually mostly found in forests, lands and pastures.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is the scientific name of Butterfly? (1 mark)
Ans. The scientific name of Butterfly is Rhopalocera, which is its suborder.
Ques. Show the classification of Butterfly. (3 marks)
Ans. The scientific classification of the butterfly can be shown as:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Suborder: Rhopalocera
In many cases, butterflies are further divided into superfamilies as well. Thus,
- Superfamily: Hedyloidea
- Family: Hedylidae
- Superfamily: Papilionoidea
- Families: Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Riodinidae, Pieridae.
Ques. In the butterfly family, what is Nymphalidae? (1 mark)
Ans. The Nymphalidae are now considered one of the largest families of butterflies, that has over 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world.
Ques. What is the lifecycle of butterfly? (3 marks)
Ans. The lifecycle of butterfly is:
- First Stage: Egg
- Second Stage: Caterpillar, Larva
- Third Stage: Pupa, Transition Stage
- Fourth Stage: Adult Butterfly, Reproductive Stage
Ques. Name two characteristics of butterfly. (2 marks)
Ans. Some of the main characteristics of butterflies are:
- There are more than or roughly 17,500 species of butterflies found till date.
- Butterflies have a clavated antennae. Often, it also is found to have a clubbed antenna.
Ques. What phylum does butterflies belong from? (1 mark)
Ans. Butterflies belong from the phylum Arthropoda.
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