Claire Weiss' Online Dicotomous Insect Identification Key

Scaled wings/proboscis



 

Lepidoptera have haustellate mouthparts which form a long tupe called a proboscis.  When the proboscis is not in use, it curls up under their heads.  Length of lepidoptera probosces vary depending on the type of flower the insect feeds on.
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Lepidopteran wings are covered with fine scales.
 
 







butterfly picture: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.pgcps.org/~gridge/buterfly/images/probosc.jpg&imgrefurl=
http://www.pgcps.pg.k12.md.us/~gridge/buterfly/nosepic.html&h=427&w=640&prev=/images%3Fq%3D
butterfly%2Bproboscis%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den
scales picture:  http://www.ci.shrewsbury.ma.us/Sps/Schools/Beal/Curriculum/butterfly/scales.html