lepidopteran

noun lep·i·dop·ter·an \ ˌle-pə-ˈdäp-tə-rən \

Definition of lepidopteran

: any of a large order (Lepidoptera) of insects comprising the butterflies, moths, and skippers that as adults have four broad or lanceolate wings usually covered with minute overlapping and often brightly colored scales and that as larvae are caterpillars

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lepidopteran

adjective

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lepidopterous

play \ˌle-pə-ˈdäp-tə-rəs\ adjective

See lepidopteran defined for kids

Recent Examples of lepidopteran from the Web

Potentially harmful lepidopteran larva was found in the peppers.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "The harmful seeds were hidden in luggage. Fortunately, Sheila the beagle found them. | Charlotte Observer," 16 Apr. 2018
In a riff on the magazine’s first cover, from 1925, by Rea Irvin, Blitt imagines a future in which our dandy mascot has become Eustace Vladimirovich Tilley and the lepidopteran under scrutiny is none other than a stunned Donald Trump.

— françoise mouly, The New Yorker, "Cover Story: Tomer Hanuka’s “Spring Awakening”," 13 Mar. 2017
Mothra Mothra‘s enormous lepidopteran, unveiled onscreen in 1961, combines traits of both butterflies and moths.

— hugh hart, WIRED, "Mega-Monsters Make Magnificent Movies," 6 Apr. 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lepidopteran.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.