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Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths, has more than 260,000 species in 128 families and 47 superfamilies and is second only
to the Coleoptera (the beetles) in number of described species.
Trying to actually find a critter like these butteflies and moths by scientific name can get kind of harrowing without really
understanding at least something about Taxonomy. It always seems to have no real sense or wrong catagories because what you
thought was a particular animals name might have only been its family and genus. In some cases genus or even higher is as
far as they go, meaning they're fairly unique and in most cases such as the suborder Zeugloptera, very primitive.
There are several different forms of Taxonomy in of itself. Phylogenetic taxonomy (or cladistic taxonomy), classing organisms
by clades. Numerical taxonomy or taximetrics and non-scientific taxonomy or folk taxonomy. Fortunately, I only care to understand
at least a bit about the most common, usually linnaean alpha taxonomy, which falls classes in heirarchy ranks.
The only real problem with taxonomy and ranks is how some species can have so many subdivisions, and the way taxonomy itself
has variations and constantly changes to species discovery and moving some species from one place to another in re-classifications.
Even with hierarchy there are three different types of systems that use empire, kingdom and domain. Depending on what you're
looking at or using depends on where something like Neoptera goes between subclass and order in the system I'm listing.
It may be a superorder, infraclass or a division below subclass.
An Example of Taxonomy Ranks
|
Domain
(Superkingdom, Superregnum
or Empire)
|
Kingdom (Regnum)
|
Animalia
|
|
|
Eukarya
|
--Subkingdom (Subregnum)
|
Eumetazoa
|
| |
----Branch
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|
| |
------Infrakingdom
|
|
|
Superphylum
|
Phylum (or Division)
|
Arthropoda
|
|
|
Protostomia
|
--Subphylum
|
Hexapoda
|
| |
----Infraphylum
|
|
|
Superclass
|
Class
|
Insecta
|
| |
--Subclass
|
Pterygota
|
| |
----Infraclass
|
Neoptera (division)
|
| |
------Parvclass
|
Endopterygota (subdivision)
|
|
Supercohort
|
Cohort
|
|
| |
--Subcohort
|
|
| |
----Infracohort
|
|
|
Magnorder
--Superorder
----Grandorder
|
|
|
|
------Mirorder
|
Order
|
Lepidoptera
|
| |
--Suborder
|
Zeugloptera
Heterobathmiina
Glossata
Aglossata
|
| |
----Infraorder
|
|
| |
------Parvorder
|
|
| |
|
--Division
----Subdivision
------Section
--------Subsection
|
|
Superfamily
--Series
----Group
|
Family
|
|
| |
--Subfamily
|
|
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----Infrafamily
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|
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Supertribe
|
Tribe
|
|
| |
--Subtribe
|
|
| |
----Infratribe
|
|
| |
Genera (singular: Genus)
|
Subgenus
|
| |
--Species
|
--Subspecies
|
Example
|
Order
|
Lepidoptera
|
|
| |
Suborder
|
Glossata
|
| |
-- Infraorder
|
-- Heteroneura
|
| |
|
--- Division: Ditrysia
---- Section: Tineina
------ Subsection: Sesiina
|
|
Superfamily
|
Sesioidea
|
|
|
-- Family
|
-- Sesiidae: Clear Wing Moths
|
|
| |
Subfamily
|
Paranthreninae
|
|
Genus
|
Paranthrene
|
|
|
-- Species
|
-- Robiniae
|
|
| |
Subspecies
|
Perlucida
|
|
A Clear Wing Moth
|
Paranthrene Robinia
|
|
Subspecies
|
Paranthrene Robinia Perlucida
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Basically what you're looking at though is the main parts being the hierarchical ("heads") of classification itself. Super-Family-Tribe-Genus-Species
with the most classic divisions of ranks in the heirarchy being Sub-Infra. Lepidoptera Superfamily is the only one who has
to worry about having a series and group. Anything below subspecies is botany.
The Family rank are usually classified into common names of general species as a whole. Families as a whole have specific,
common genetic and physical traits that make them the same family in a specific order. Such as the family Papilionidae are
all swallowtails falling genetically into one family.
Swallowtails are then ranked by genus (type) such as the swallowtail genus Graphium is all swordtails.
The rank of species is the specific descriptor type such as Sarpedon are one swordtail species known as Common Bluebottle
or Blue Triangle.
Further subspecies rank denotes a subspecific description. Such as Sarpedon Luctatius is a more specific race of common bluebottle
than Sarpedon Nipponum but still very difficult to distinguish one bluebottle from another without knowing that particular
subspecies physical differences like shapes and colors.
Suborders of Lepidoptera:
Zeugloptera
Heterobathmiina
Aglossata
Glossata
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|
|
|
Superfamily
|
Micropterigidae
|
|
Family
|
Micropterigidae - Mandibulate Archaic Moths
|
|
Superfamily
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Heterobathmioidea
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|
Family
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Heterobathmioidea -
|
|
Superfamily
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Agathiphagoidea
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|
Family
|
Agathiphagidae - Kauri moths
|
|
Glossata Infraorder
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Heteroneura
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|
Heteroneura Division
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Ditrysia
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|
Cossina Subsection
|
Cossina
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Superfamily
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Castnioidea
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Family
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Castniidae -
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Superfamily
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Cossoidea
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Cossoidea Series
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Cossiformes
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Family
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Cossidae - Carpenter Moths
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|
Family
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Dudgeoneidae -
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Cossoidea Series
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Limacodiformes
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Family
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Cyclotornidae -
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Family
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Epipyropidae - Planthopper Parasite Moths
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|
Family
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Dalceridae -Slug Moths
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Family
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Limacodidae - Slug/Cup Moths
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Superfamily
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Tortricoidea
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Family
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Tortricidae - Tortrix Moths
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|
Cossina Subsection
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Bombycina
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Superfamily
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Bombycoidea
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|
Family
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Anthelidae - Australian Lappet Moths
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|
Family
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Bombycidae - Mori: Asian Silkworm
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|
Family
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Brahmaeidae - Brahmin Moths
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|
Family
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Carthaeidae -
|
|
Family
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Endromidae - Endromis Versicolora: Kentish Glory
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|
Family
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Eupterotidae -
|
|
Family
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Lasiocampidae - Eggar, Snout or Lappet Moths
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|
Family
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Lemoniidae -
|
|
Family
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Mimallonidae -
|
|
Family
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Mirinidae -
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|
Family
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Saturniidae - Giant Silkworm, Emperor and Hawk Moths
|
|
Superfamily
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Calliduloidea
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|
Family
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Callidulidae - Callidulid Moth
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|
Superfamily
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Drepanoidea
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|
Family
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Axiidae -
|
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Family
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Drepanidae - Hook-tip and Lutestring moths (ect.)
|
|
Superfamily
|
Geometroidea
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|
Family
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Geometridae - Inchworms
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|
Family
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Hedylidae - Butterfly Moths
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Superfamily
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Noctuoidea
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Family
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Arctiidae - Tiger, Footmen, Lichen, Wasp (ect.) moths
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|
Family
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Doidae -
|
|
Family
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Lymantriidae - Tussock Moths
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|
Family
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Noctuidae - Owlets, Cutworm Moths
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|
Family
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Nolidae - Tuft Moths
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|
Family
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Notodontidae - Prominent, (ect.) Moths
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|
Family
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Oenosandridae -
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|
Family
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Pantheidae -
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Superfamily
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Papilionoidea
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|
Papilionoidea Series
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Hesperiiformes
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Family
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Hesperiidae -
|
|
Papilionoidea Series
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Papilioniformes
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|
Family
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Lycaenidae - Gossamer-winged Butterflies
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|
Family
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Nymphalidae - Admiral, Tortoiseshell, Fritillaries (ect.) Butterflies
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|
Family
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Papilionidae -
|
|
Family
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Pieridae -
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Family
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Riodinidae - Metalmark Butterflies
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|
Superfamily
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Sphingoidea
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|
Family
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Sphingidae - Hawk, Hummingbird Hawk, Sphinx, Hornworm Moths
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|
Superfamily
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Hedylidae - Butterfly Moths
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|
Family
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Uranioidea -
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|
Family
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Epicopeiidae -
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|
Family
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Sematuridae -
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|
Family
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Uraniidae -
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|
Tineina Subsection
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Sesiina
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|
Superfamily
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Sesioidea
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|
Family
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Brachodidae -
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|
Family
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Sesiidae -
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|
Family
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Urodidae -
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|
Family
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Brachodidae -
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|
Family
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Choreutidae -
|
|
Superfamily
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Zygaenoidea
|
|
Family
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Heterogynidae -
|
|
Family
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Zygaenidae -
|
|
Family
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Himantopteridae -
|
|
Family
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Lacturidae -
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|
Family
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Somabrachyidae -
|
|
Family
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Megalopygidae -
|
|
Family
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Aididae -
|
|
Family
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Anomoeotidae -
|
|
Tineina Subsection
|
Tineina
|
|
Superfamily
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Copromorphoidea
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|
Family
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Copromorphidae -
|
|
Family
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Alucitidae -
|
|
Family
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Carposinidae -
|
|
Family
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Epermeniidae -
|
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Superfamily
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Galacticoidea
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|
Family
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Galacticidae -
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Superfamily
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Gelechioidea
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|
Family
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Agonoxenidae -
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Family
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Batrachedridae -
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Family
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Blastobasidae -
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Family
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Coleophoridae -
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Family
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Cosmopterigidae -
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Family
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Elachistidae -
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Family
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Ethmiidae -
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Family
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Gelechiidae -
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Family
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Holcopogonidae -
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Family
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Lecithoceridae -
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Family
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Metachandidae -
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Family
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Momphidae -
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Family
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Oecophoridae -
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Family
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Pterolonchidae -
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Family
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Scythrididae -
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Family
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Symmocidae -
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Superfamily
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Immoidea
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Family
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Immidae -
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Superfamily
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Pterophoroidea
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Family
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Tineodidae -
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Family
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Pterophoridae -
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Superfamily
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Pyraloidea
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Family
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Hyblaeidae -
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Family
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Thyrididae -
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Family
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Pyralidae -
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Family
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Crambidae -
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Superfamily
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Simaethistoidea
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Family
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Simaethistidae -
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Superfamily
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Tineoidea
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Tineoidea Series
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Tineiformes
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Family
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Acrolophidae -
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Family
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Arrhenophanidae -
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Family
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Eriocottidae -
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Family
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Lypusidae -
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Family
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Psychidae -
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Family
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Tineidae -
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Tineoidea Series
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Gracillariiformes
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Family
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Bucculatricidae -
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Family
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Douglasiidae -
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Family
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Gracillariidae -
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Family
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Roeslerstammiidae -
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Superfamily
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Whalleyanoidea
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Family
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Whalleyanidae -
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Superfamily
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Yponomeutoidea
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Family
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Acrolepiidae -
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Family
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Bedelliidae -
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Family
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Glyphipterigidae -
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Family
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Heliodinidae -
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Family
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Lyonetiidae -
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Family
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Plutellidae -
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Family
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Yponomeutidae -
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Family
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Ypsolophidae -
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Heteroneura Division
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Monotrysia
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Monotrysia Section
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Nepticulina
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Superfamily
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Nepticuloidea
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Family
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Nepticulidae -
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Family
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Opostegidae -
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Superfamily
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Tischerioidea
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Family
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Tischeriidae -
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Superfamily
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Palaephatoidea
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Family
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Palaephatidae -
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Monotrysia Section
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Incurvariina
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Superfamily
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Incurvarioidea
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Family
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Incurvariidae -
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Family
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Cecidosidae -
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Family
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Prodoxidae -
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Family
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Adelidae -
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Family
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Heliozelidae -
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Family
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Crinopterygidae -
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Glossata Infraorder
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Dacnonypha
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Superfamily
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Eriocranioidea
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Family
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Eriocraniidae -
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Family
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Acanthopteroctetidae -
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Glossata Infraorder
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Lophocoronina
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Superfamily
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Lophocoronoidea
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Family
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Lophocoronidae -
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Glossata Infraorder
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Exoporia
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Superfamily
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Hepialoidea
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Family
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Anomosetidae -
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Family
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Hepialidae -
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Family
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Neotheoridae -
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Family
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Palaeosetidae -
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Family
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Prototheoridae -
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Superfamily
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Mnesarchaeoidea
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Family
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Mnesarchaeidae -
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Glossata Infraorder
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Neopseustina
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Superfamily
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Neopseustoidea
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Family
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Neopseustidae -
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