LEPIDOPTERA
(BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS)

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE UGLY

Let's face it, the Insecta Phylum includes some of the ugliest living things, right? (think flies, mosquitos and midges for instance)Lepidoptera has undoubtedly the most beautiful creatures in the Insecta Phylum. It has the good (bees et al which pollinate our crops and without which we would all starve); the bad (think tomato worms); and the ugly (there are many, including maggots, flies, mosquitos et al). Then think the BEAUTIFUL. Ah, that is the adults of the Butterflies and the Moths. Not all are beautiful, but many are. However, the young of some of these are the "bad" also (again, think tomato worm).

This page is just started and we will have a table of some of the members of the Class Lepidoptera for you to select later.

To start with, I am presenting on this page, only one of what is a lovely Moth, called the Polyphemus Moth, of the Lepidoptera Family Saturnidae.


Polyphemus Moth Female about to lay eggs Excellent specimen on Gold foil background-12	Polyphemus Moth Cocoon collected by PMNS Curator-13	Polyphemus Moth Female about to lay eggs Excellent specimen on Chartreuse background-11

Unidentified butterfly at Cockrell Butterfly Center Houston Museum of Nat. Sci.-2	Entrance to the Houston Museum of Natural Science Insect Display-11	Unidentified butterfly at Cockrell Butterfly Center Houston Museum of Nat. Sci.-3

Unidentified butterfly at Cockrell Butterfly Center Houston Museum of Nat. Sci.-9	This is the chrysalis of a butterfly, which appears to be a bird dropping to hide it from predators. Cockrell Butterfly Center Houston Museum of Nat. Sci.-6	Multiple butterflies at Cockrell Butterfly Center Houston Museum of Nat. Sci.-10

Much more will be added here. Thanks for your patience.