Question

Butterfly belongs to the order
(a) Lepidoptera
(b)Homoptera
(c) Diptera
(d) Coleoptera

Answer 1

This order is one of the most widely spread and recognizable orders of insects in the world. The main characteristics of this order are that the whole body is covered with scales and has wings and proboscis.

Complete answer:
Butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera. Lepidopterans are characterized by three main features:

1. The whole body of the insect is covered with scales but these scales are modified into hairs in butterflies and moths.
2. Presence of wings.
3. Presence of proboscis.
   In butterflies and moths, the scales are modified into flattened "hairs", which gives them their wide variety of colours and patterns. They have membranous wings but show many variations of the basic body structure that have evolved to gain advantages in lifestyle and distribution. This is the most recognized and popular order of insects especially among the people who are involved in the observation, study, collection, and rearing of these insects. A lepidopterist is a person who collects or studies this order namely Lepidoptera.

Additional Information:
-The term Lepidoptera was first used by Carl Linnaeus in the year 1746 in his book " Fauna Svecica".
-The term Lepidoptera is taken from the Greek words lepís which means“scale” and pterón which means “wing”.
-Around 180,000 species of Lepidoptera are known and are distributed among 126 families.
-Egg, larva known as caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis, and adult or imago are four stages of the life cycle of butterflies.
-Mating and egg-laying activity is carried by the adult butterflies.
-Butterflies and moths undergo a complete metamorphosis that is why they are called holometabolous.
-As pollinators butterflies play an important role in the natural ecosystem.

So, the correct answer is, 'Lepidoptera'.

Note:
-The term Lepidoptera was first used by Carl Linnaeus in the year 1746 in his book " Fauna Svecica".
-A lepidopterist is a person who collects or studies this order namely Lepidoptera.
-Around 180,000 species of Lepidoptera are known and are distributed among 126 families.