Larvae are
polypod-eruciform type. Mouthparts are adapted for chewing with strong
mandibles. A group of lateral ocelli is found on either side of the head. The antenna is
short and three segmented. There are three pairs of five segmented thoracic legs ending
in claws. Two to five pairs of fleshy unsegmented
prolegs are found in the abdomen. At
the bottom of the proleg,
crochets are present.
Pupa is generally
obtect . It is either naked or enclosed in a cocoon made out of soil, frass,
silk or larval hairs.
Classification
Majority of Lepidopteran insects (97%) are grouped under the suborder
Ditrysia in which
the female insects have two pores. The copulatory pore is located in eighth abdominal sternite
Insect Morphology and Systematics
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and the egg pore in ninth abdominal sternite. Ramaining insects are grouped under the suborder
Monotrysia in which the female insects have one pore.
