Which insect belongs to the order Lepidoptera?

• A. Codling Moth
• B. Caddisfly
• C. Camel Cricket
• D. Cicada

Answer: (A)

Lepidoptera are the group that includes moths and butterflies, and they are easy to spot by wings covered in tiny scales and a life cycle that goes through a caterpillar stage before becoming an adult moth or butterfly. The codling moth is a small moth, so its adults have scaled wings and its immature stage is a caterpillar that feeds on fruit, placing it squarely in Lepidoptera. The other insects belong to different orders: caddisflies are Trichoptera and often have hairy wings with aquatic larvae; camel crickets are Orthoptera and resemble crickets; cicadas are Hemiptera with piercing-sucking mouthparts and clear wings. So the codling moth is the best example of an insect in the Lepidoptera order.