Moths are insects in the order Lepidoptera, including the entire order except for the suborder Rhopalocera (the butterflies, which are a more derived part of the order). The term “moth” is a common name and not a scientific term, since moths do not form a single monophyletic group due to excluding the butterflies. Generally, moths are nocturnal, and are liquivores which subsist on nectar and other plant fluids. Entomologists believe that there are about 160,000 species of moths, but because so many come out only at night and are well-camouflaged, most of them escape scientific notice. Most moth species are probably unnamed and undiscovered, and even those that have been identified are poorly studied.
