Butterflies and moths belong to which insect order?

Butterflies and moths belong to the insect order Lepidoptera.

The name Lepidoptera comes from Greek words meaning “scale wing,” referring to the tiny overlapping scales that cover adult wings. These scales create many wing colors and patterns, including some produced by reflected light rather than pigments.

Lepidoptera undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Butterfly and moth caterpillars are larvae, while a butterfly pupa is usually called a chrysalis. Moths and butterflies are grouped together scientifically even though everyday language treats them as separate groups.

There is no single universal anatomical feature that perfectly separates every moth from every butterfly. Butterflies are generally day-flying and often have clubbed antennae, whereas moths are more commonly nocturnal and usually have varied or feathery antennae.