The Obtectomera is a clade of macro-moths and butterflies, comprising over 100,000 species in at least 12 superfamilies. This clade was initially defined by a pupal stage with the four anterior abdominal segments fused and immobile as the sole

synapomorphy In phylogenetics, an apomorphy (or derived trait) is a novel Phenotypic trait, character or character state that has evolution, evolved from its ancestral form (or Plesiomorphy and symplesiomorphy, plesiomorphy). A synapomorphy is an apomorphy sh ...

, but was later revised to include the modification of the dorsal edge of the pulvillus with a protrusion in the adult.

Taxonomy

The Obtectomera includes the following 12 superfamilies: *

Whalleyanoidea ''Whalleyana'' is an enigmatic genus of moths in the lepidopteran group Obtectomera, endemic to Madagascar. The genus contains two species, whose biology are unknown. The genus had been placed in the picture-winged leaf moths, (Thyrididae), but t ...

Minet, 1991 *

Thyridoidea The Thyrididae comprise the family of picture-winged leaf moths. They are the only family in the superfamily Thyridoidea, which sometimes has been included in the Pyraloidea, but this is not supported by cladistic analysis. Most species live in ...

Herrich-Schäffer, 1846 – picture-winged leaf moths * Hyblaeoidea Hampson, 1903 – teak moths * Calliduloidea Moore, 1877 – Old World butterfly-moths *

Papilionoidea Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

Latreille, 1802 – true butterflies *

Pyraloidea The Pyraloidea (pyraloid moths or snout moths) are a moth superfamily containing about 16,000 described species worldwide, and probably at least as many more remain to be described. They are generally fairly small moths, and as such, they have ...

Latreille, 1809 – pyraloid moths *

Mimallonoidea Mimallonidae (mimallonids), sometimes known as "sack-bearer" moths for the larval case-building behavior, are a family of Lepidoptera containing over 300 named species in 43 genera. These moths are found only in the New World, with most taxa occu ...

Burmeister, 1878 – sack bearers (sometimes included Macroheterocera) *

Macroheterocera The Macroheterocera are a well supported clade of moths that are closely related to butterflies and macro-moths. Taxonomy The Macroheterocera includes the following superfamilies: * Mimallonoidea – sack bearers (variously included in basal ...

Chapman, 1893 **

Drepanoidea Drepanoidea is the superfamily of "hook tip moths". See Minet and Scoble (1999) for a comprehensive overview. References * Minet, J. and Scoble, M.J. (1999). The Drepanoid/Geometroid Assemblage. Ch. 17 in Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.). ''Lepidoptera ...

Boisduval, 1828 – drepanids **

Noctuoidea Noctuoidea is the superfamily of noctuid (Latin "night owl") or "owlet" moths, and has more than 70,000 described species, the largest number of any Lepidopteran superfamily. Its classification has not yet reached a satisfactory or stable stat ...

Latreille, 1809 – owlet moths **

Geometroidea The Geometroidea are the superfamily of geometrid moths in the order Lepidoptera. It includes the families Geometridae, Uraniidae, Epicopeiidae, Sematuridae Sematuridae is a Family (biology), family of moths in the lepidopteran Order (bio ...

Leach, 1815 – inchworms **

Lasiocampoidea The Lasiocampidae are a family of moths also known as eggars, tent caterpillars, snout moths (although this also refers to the Pyralidae), or lappet moths. Over 2,000 species occur worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied. It i ...

Harris, 1841 – lappet moths **

Bombycoidea Bombycoidea is a superfamily of moths, including the silk moths, giant silk moths, sphinx moths, saturniids, and relatives. The superfamily Lasiocampoidea is a close relative and was historically sometimes merged in this group. After many ...

Latreille, 1802 – bombycoid moths Some other superfamilies are sometimes included: *

Pterophoroidea The Pterophoridae or plume moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings, giving them the shape of a narrow winged airplane. Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are ...

Latreille, 1802 – plume moths *

Alucitoidea Aluctoidea is the superfamily of many-plumed and false plume moths. These small moths are most easily recognized by their wings. These each consist of many (typically more than 3) narrow strips of membrane around the major veins, instead of a co ...

Leach, 1815 – many-plume moths *

Copromorphoidea Carposinoidea, the "fruitworm moths", is a superfamily of insects in the lepidopteran order. The superfamily is also known as Copromorphoidea, which is a junior synonym. These moths are small to medium-sized (10–50 mm. in wingspan) and a ...

CarposinoideaWalsingham, 1897 – fruitworm moths * Epermenioidea Spuler, 1910 – fringe-tufted moths *

Gelechioidea __NOTOC__ Gelechioidea (from the type genus ''Gelechia'', "keeping to the ground") is the Taxonomic rank, superfamily of moths that contains the case-bearers, twirler moths, and relatives, also simply called curved-horn moths or gelechioid moths. ...

Stainton, 1854 – case-bearers, twirler moths, curved-horn moths, etc. The macroheteroceran superfamilies were previously place in the

Macrolepidoptera Macrolepidoptera is a group within the insect Order (biology), order Lepidoptera. Traditionally used for the larger butterflies and moths as opposed to the "microlepidoptera", this group is artificial. However, it seems that by moving some taxa ...

, but recent molecular studies have failed to recover the Macrolepidoptera as a monophyletic group. The latter grouping also included true butterflies (

), New World butterfly-moths (

Hedylidae Hedylidae, the "American moth-butterflies", is a Family (biology), family of insects in the order Lepidoptera, formerly representing the superfamily Hedyloidea. They have traditionally been viewed as an Extant taxon, extant sister group of the bu ...

), Old World butterfly-moths ( Calliduloidea), and European gold moths ( Axioidea).

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2013164 Ditrysia