Heterocera

Heterocera is a suborder of the order Lepidoptera, commonly known as moths. This group is incredibly diverse, encompassing a vast majority of the known species within Lepidoptera, with estimates suggesting over 160,000 species described. Historically, Heterocera was contrasted with the suborder Rhopalocera, which comprises butterflies. However, modern phylogenetic studies indicate that the traditional grouping of Heterocera is paraphyletic, meaning it does not include all descendants of a common ancestor. Despite this, the term is still widely used in informal contexts and for descriptive purposes.

Moths, unlike butterflies, generally possess thicker, hairier bodies and are often nocturnal, though many species are active during the day or at twilight. Their antennae are typically feathery or comb-like in males, and thread-like in both sexes, contrasting with the clubbed antennae of butterflies. Moths also have a frenulum, a wing-coupling mechanism, which is usually absent in butterflies. The larval stage, or caterpillar, of moths exhibits a wide range of appearances and feeding habits, some being economically important as pests and others as beneficial predators or decomposers. The pupal stage can occur in cocoons spun from silk, underground, or in other concealed locations.