lepidopterous

American  

[lep-i-dop-ter-uhs] / ˌlɛp ɪˈdɒp tər əs /

Or lepidopteral

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the Lepidoptera, an order of insects comprising the butterflies, moths, and skippers, that in the adult state have four membranous wings more or less covered with small scales.

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Other Word Forms

• nonlepidopteral adjective
• nonlepidopterous adjective

Etymology

Origin of lepidopterous

First recorded in 1790–1800; Lepidopter(a) + -ous

Example Sentences

I greatly fear," he continued, "that the omission to which I have reluctantly adverted is to a certain extent typically characteristic of the entire political and social economy of the lepidopterous order.

From The Twilight of the Gods, and Other Tales by Garnett, Richard

Tortrix, tor′triks, n. the typical genus of Tortricid�, a family of small lepidopterous insects.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Noctua, nok′tū-a, n. a generic name variously used—giving name to the Noctū′id�, a large family of nocturnal lepidopterous insects, strong-bodied moths.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

He leaves us, however, to imagine under what possible geographical conditions the climate in Europe could be too severe for a lepidopterous fauna, while at the same time Central Asia could maintain an abundant one.

From The History of the European Fauna by Scharff, Robert Francis

Again, in some lepidopterous insects a white or a yellow appearance is produced by the deposition of uric acid or a nearly allied substance on the surface of the wings.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various