Obtectomera

The Obtectomera is a clade of macro-moths and butterflies, comprising over 100,000 species in at least 12 superfamilies. This clade was initially defined by a pupal stage with the four anterior abdominal segments fused and immobile as the sole synapomorphy, but was later revised to include the modification of the dorsal edge of the pulvillus with a protrusion in the adult.

Taxonomy

The Obtectomera includes the following 12 superfamilies:

Whalleyanoidea Minet, 1991
Thyridoidea Herrich-Schäffer, 1846 – picture-winged leaf moths
Hyblaeoidea Hampson, 1903 – teak moths
Calliduloidea Moore, 1877 – Old World butterfly-moths
Papilionoidea Latreille, 1802 – true butterflies
Pyraloidea Latreille, 1809 – pyraloid moths
Mimallonoidea Burmeister, 1878 – sack bearers
Macroheterocera Chapman, 1893
* Drepanoidea Boisduval, 1828 – drepanids
* Noctuoidea Latreille, 1809 – owlet moths
* Geometroidea Leach, 1815 – inchworms
* Lasiocampoidea Harris, 1841 – lappet moths
* Bombycoidea Latreille, 1802 – bombycoid moths

Some other superfamilies are sometimes included:

Pterophoroidea Latreille, 1802 – plume moths
Alucitoidea Leach, 1815 – many-plume moths
Copromorphoidea Walsingham, 1897 – fruitworm moths
Epermenioidea Spuler, 1910 – fringe-tufted moths
Gelechioidea Stainton, 1854 – case-bearers, twirler moths, curved-horn moths, etc.

The macroheteroceran superfamilies were previously place in the Macrolepidoptera, but recent molecular studies have failed to recover the Macrolepidoptera as a monophyletic group. The latter grouping also included true butterflies, New World butterfly-moths, Old World butterfly-moths, and European gold moths.