Kingdom Animalia (animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (arthropods, invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and jointed legs)
Class Insecta (insects, arthropods with 6 legs, 2 antennae, and a 3-part body)
Order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
- Suborder Jugatae – primitive Lepidoptera (resembling caddisflies)
- Suborder Frenatae – most moths (and most of the lepidoptera)
- Suborder Rhopalocera – butterflies and skippers
- Superfamily Hesperioidea
- Family Hesperiidae – skippers (relatively small, fast-flying species) About 3,000 species worldwide.
- Megathyminae
- Coeliadinae
- Pyrrhopyginae
- Pyrginae
- Trapezitinae
- Heteropterinae
- Hesperiinae
- Family Hesperiidae – skippers (relatively small, fast-flying species) About 3,000 species worldwide.
- Superfamily Papilionoidea – butterflies
- Family Papilionidae – Swallowtail Butterflies – most species have prominent “tails.” About 600 species worldwide.
- Baroniinae
- Parnassiinae
- Papilioninae
- Family Pieridae – Yellow-White Butterflies. Over 1,000 species worldwide.
- Pseudopontiinae
- Dismorphiinae
- Pierinae
- Coliadinae
- Family Lycaenidae – Gossamer-Winged Butterflies (Blues, Hairstreaks and Coppers). The colors and patterns of the sexes frequently differ. Over 5,000 species worldwide.
- Lipteninae
- Poritiinae
- Liphyrinae
- Miletinae
- Curetinae
- Lycaeninae
- Theclinae
- Polyommatinae
- Family Riodinidae – Metalmark Butterflies (sometimes not placed in the Family Lycaenidae). About 1,000 species worldwide.
- Euselasiinae
- Riodininae
- Family Heliconiidae – Tropical butterflies associated with passion vines, like the Zebra longwing
- Family Libytheidae – Snout Butterflies
- Family Nymphalidae – Brush-Footed Butterflies. There are about 5,000 species worldwide.
- Group Nymphalinina
- Danaidae
- Ithomiinae
- Acraeinae
- Heliconiinae
- Heliconius
- Eueides
- Dryas
- Dryadula
- Philaethria
- Dione
- Agraulis
- Podotricha
- Cethosia – Lacewings
- Nymphalinae
- Group Satyrinina
- Calinaginae
- Apaturinae
- Amathusiinae
- Morphinae
- Brassolinae
- Satyrinae
- Group Nymphalinina
- Family Papilionidae – Swallowtail Butterflies – most species have prominent “tails.” About 600 species worldwide.
- Superfamily Hesperioidea