ABSTRACT
Lepidoptera are among the most diverse and easily recognized organisms on the planet, with at least 150,000 described species (Kristensen and Skalski 1998). They are one of the four megadiverse orders of holometabolous insects, together with Diptera (ies), Coleoptera (beetles), and Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, and ants). Butteries alone are more numerous than birds, Class Aves, with approximately 18,000 species (Kristensen and Skalski 1998). Generally, Lepidoptera are characterized by the presence of scaled wings, elongate sucking mouthparts (proboscis), and complete (holometabolous) development where the larval stages are commonly referred to as “caterpillars.” Historically, species of Lepidoptera have proven invaluable model systems in the elds of development, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, evolution, and ecology (e.g., Bates 1861; Müller 1879; Ford 1964; Ehrlich and Raven 1967; Kettlewell 1973). Interest in Lepidoptera species as model systems stems from a number of biological characteristics that render this group amenable for study (Bolker 1995). Lepidopterans are charismatic, due mainly to their striking variety of wing color patterns and larval morphologies, and they are avidly collected by professionals and amateurs alike
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................1 Phylogenetics and Model Systems ................................................................................................3 Overview of Lepidopteran Phylogeny ..........................................................................................4 Overview of Selected Ditrysian Superfamilies .............................................................................4
