Editing Lepidoptera (section)

== Etymology ==
The term Lepidoptera was used in 1746 by [[Carl Linnaeus]] in his ''[[Fauna Svecica]]''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1746 | title=Fauna Svecica: sistens animalia Sveciæ regni: qvadrupedia, aves, amphibia, pisces, insecta, vermes, distributa per classes & ordines, genera & species. Cum differentiis specierum, synonymis autorum, nominibus incolarum, locis habitationum, descriptionibus insectorum | language=la | place=Lugduni Batavorum [Leiden] | publisher=C. Wishoff et G.J. Wishoff | page=232 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/24848873 | access-date=8 August 2020 | archive-date=18 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918151150/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/24848873 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="EngelKristensen2013">{{cite journal |last1=Engel |first1=Michael S. |last2=Kristensen |first2=Niels P. |title=A History of Entomological Classification |journal=Annual Review of Entomology |volume=58 |issue=1 |year=2013 |pages=585–607 |issn=0066-4170 |doi=10.1146/annurev-ento-120811-153536|pmid=23317047 }}</ref> The word is derived from [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] {{lang |grc |[[wikt:λεπίς|λεπίς]]}} {{Transliteration|grc|lepís}}, [[Genitive case|gen.]] {{lang |grc |[[wikt:λεπίδος|λεπίδος]]}} {{Transliteration|grc |lepídos}} ("[[scale (insect anatomy)|scale]]") and {{lang |grc| [[wikt:πτερόν|πτερόν]]}} ("wing").<ref name="Etymology">{{OEtymD|lepidoptera}}</ref><ref>{{LSJ|lepi/s|λεπίς}}, {{LSJ|ptero/n|πτερόν|ref}}.</ref> Sometimes, the term [[Rhopalocera]] is used for the [[clade]] of all butterfly species, derived from the Ancient Greek {{lang |grc |[[wikt:ῥόπαλον|ῥόπαλον]]}} (''{{lang |grc |rhopalon}}'')<ref name="Partridge">{{cite book |title=Origins: an etymological dictionary of modern English |last=Partridge |first=Eric |year=2009 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-203-42114-7  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xA9dxrhfa5kC}}</ref>{{rp |4150}} and {{lang |grc |[[wikt:κέρας|κέρας]]}} (''{{lang |grc |keras}}'')<ref name="Partridge"/>{{rp |3993}} meaning "club" and "horn", respectively, coming from the shape of the [[antenna (biology)|antenna]]e of butterflies.

The origins of the common names "butterfly" and "moth" are varied and often obscure. The [[English language|English]] word butterfly is from [[Old English]] ''{{lang|ang|buttorfleoge}}'', with many variations in spelling. Other than that, the origin is unknown, although it could be derived from the pale yellow color of many species' wings suggesting the color of butter.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web |url=http://www.etymonline.com/ |title=Online Etymological Dictionary |last=Harpe |first=Douglas |author2=Dan McCormack |date=November 2001 |publisher=LogoBee |page=1 |access-date=6 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825071940/http://www.etymonline.com/ |archive-date=25 August 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Arnett">{{Cite book |last=Arnett |first=Ross H. |title=American insects: a handbook of the insects of America north of Mexico |publisher=[[CRC Press]] |date=28 July 2000 |edition=2nd |page=631 |chapter=Part I: 27 |isbn=978-0-8493-0212-1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4M0v0Ye54MYC&q=leidoptera |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531114653/https://books.google.com/books?id=4M0v0Ye54MYC&q=leidoptera |url-status=live}}</ref> The species of [[Heterocera]] are commonly called [[moth]]s. The origins of the English word moth are clearer, deriving from Old English ''{{lang|ang|moððe}}'' (cf. [[Northumbrian dialect]] ''{{lang |ang |mohðe}}'') from Common Germanic (compare [[Old Norse]] ''{{lang|non|motti}}'', [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ''{{Lang|nl|mot}}'' and [[German language|German]] ''{{lang|de|Motte}}'' all meaning "moth"). Perhaps its origins are related to Old English ''{{lang|ang|maða}}'' meaning "[[maggot]]" or from the root of "[[midge]]", which until the 16th century was used mostly to indicate the larva, usually in reference to devouring clothes.<ref name="Etymology2">{{cite dictionary |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=moth&searchmode=none |title=moth |last=Harper |first=Douglas |dictionary=The Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=31 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606064211/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=moth&searchmode=none |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The etymological origins of the word "caterpillar", the larval form of butterflies and moths, are from the early 16th century, from [[Middle English]] {{lang|enm|catirpel}}, {{lang|enm|catirpeller}}, probably an alteration of [[Old French|Old North French]] {{lang|fro|catepelose}} (from Latin {{lang|la|cattus}}, "cat" + {{lang|la|pilosus}}, "hairy").<ref>{{cite dictionary |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/caterpillar |title=Caterpillar |access-date=5 October 2011 |dictionary=Dictionary.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909053143/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/caterpillar |archive-date=9 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>