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
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Lepidopteran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lepidopteran. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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