Lepidoptera or lepidopterans is an order of winged insects that includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organisms, making it the second largest insect order with 126 families and 46 superfamilies. and one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world.
Image: Peacock butterfly (Aglais io) 2
Image: Sphinx moth (Adhemarius gannascus)
Face of a caterpillar with the mouthparts showing
Caterpillar prolegs on Papilio machaon
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In invertebrates, the term usually refers to tubular mouthparts used for feeding and sucking. In vertebrates, a proboscis is an elongated nose or snout.
Convolvulus hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) feeding with extended proboscis
Proboscis of a predatory marine snail Mitra mitra.
Kellet's whelks feeding on a dead fish using a long, prehensile proboscis.