Lepidoptera

Final Room:

To conclude the journey it seemed only right to have a title that encapsulated the diversity of the moth and butterfly. Instead of finding a particular moth to crown queen, we went with the term ‘Lepidoptera’ which literally means “scale wing” in Ancient Greek. 


About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 per cent of the total described species of living organisms.It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world. Lepidopteran species are characterized by more than three derived features. The most apparent is the presence of scales that cover the bodies, wings, and a proboscis. The scales are modified, flattened "hairs", and give butterflies and moths their wide variety of colors and patterns.



Butterflies and moths play an important role in the natural ecosystem as pollinators and as food in the food chain; conversely, their larvae are considered very problematic to vegetation in agriculture, as their main source of food is often live plant matter. In many species, the female may produce from 200 to 600 eggs, while in others, the number may approach 30,000 eggs in one day. A symbol of life and re-birth. Moth/butterfly totem holds great magic. 

Interestingly, in many cultures the soul of a dead person is associated with the butterfly, for example in Ancient Greece, where the word for butterfly ψυχή (psyche) also means soul and breath. In Latin, as in Ancient Greece, the word for "butterfly" papilio was associated with the soul of the dead.

And so let us finish here, or rather begin on this journey.