lepidopteran

noun

lep·​i·​dop·​ter·​an ˌle-pə-ˈdäp-tə-rən 

: any of a large order (Lepidoptera) of insects comprising the butterflies, moths, and skippers that as adults have four broad or lanceolate wings usually covered with minute overlapping and often brightly colored scales and that as larvae are caterpillars

lepidopteran adjective

lepidopterous

ˌle-pə-ˈdäp-tə-rəs 

adjective

Examples of lepidopteran in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When lepidopterans land directly on a flower, pollen naturally sticks to their bodies. —Max G. Levy, WIRED, 27 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, researchers want to expand the use of RNA pesticides to lepidopterans, which include major moth pests such as corn borers and the fall armyworm. —Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 27 June 2024

Then, in 1926, a solution was finally found: an Argentine lepidopteran (moth) known as Cactoblastis cactorum, a parasite of various species of Opuntia. —Longreads, 23 Mar. 2021

Potentially harmful lepidopteran larva was found in the peppers. —Joe Marusak, charlotteobserver, 16 Apr. 2018

In a riff on the magazine’s first cover, from 1925, by Rea Irvin, Blitt imagines a future in which our dandy mascot has become Eustace Vladimirovich Tilley and the lepidopteran under scrutiny is none other than a stunned Donald Trump. —Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2017

Mothra Mothra‘s enormous lepidopteran, unveiled onscreen in 1961, combines traits of both butterflies and moths. —Hugh Hart, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2010

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Lepidoptera, from lepid- + Greek pteron wing — more at feather

First Known Use

circa 1901, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lepidopteran

noun

lep·​i·​dop·​ter·​an ˌlep-ə-ˈdäp-tə-rən 

: any of a large order of insects that include the butterflies, moths, and skippers and that as adults have four wings usually covered with minute overlapping often brightly colored scales and as larvae are caterpillars

lepidopteran adjective

lepidopterous

-tə-rəs 

adjective