Obtectomera is a clade of moths and butterflies comprising over 100,000 species in at least 12 superfamilies.[1][2]

The clade was initially defined by characteristics of the pupal stage. Its definition was later expanded to include a feature of the adult pulvillus.[3]
Taxonomy[edit | edit source]
The following superfamilies are included in Obtectomera:[1]
- Whalleyanoidea
- Thyridoidea – picture-winged leaf moths
- Hyblaeoidea – teak moths
- Calliduloidea – Old World butterfly-moths
- Papilionoidea – true butterflies
- Pyraloidea – pyraloid moths
- Mimallonoidea – sack-bearer moths
- Macroheterocera
Other superfamilies are sometimes included, including Pterophoroidea, Alucitoidea, Copromorphoidea, Epermenioidea and Gelechioidea.[2]
Earlier classifications placed macroheteroceran superfamilies within Macrolepidoptera. However, molecular studies have not consistently supported Macrolepidoptera as a monophyletic group.[1][2]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 van Nieukerken, Erik J. (2011). "Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758". Zootaxa. 3148: 212–221. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3148.1.41.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mitter, Charles; Davis, Donald R.; Cummings, Michael P. (2017). "Phylogeny and Evolution of Lepidoptera". Annual Review of Entomology. 62: 265–283. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035125.
- ↑ Minet, Joel (1991). "Tentative reconstruction of the ditrysian phylogeny (Lepidoptera: Glossata)". Insect Systematics & Evolution. 22 (1): 74.