When Did Lepidopterist Begin?

The synonymous term lepidopterology dates from 1899, but the related noun lepidopterist is earlier, being first recorded in 1826. All three derive from the scientific name for moths and butterflies, Lepidoptera, which was coined in 1735 by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus from the Greek words for 'scale' and 'wing'.

When did the first butterflies appear on Earth?

The earliest known butterfly fossils are from the mid Eocene epoch, between 40-50 million years ago. Their development is closely linked to the evolution of flowering plants, since both adult butterflies and caterpillars feed on flowering plants.

Where did the word lepidopterist come from?

Oxford says the term comes from Lepidoptera, modern Latin for a “large order of insects, characterized by having four membranous wings covered with scales; it comprises the butterflies and moths.” Interestingly, this modern Latin term is derived from the old Greek words λεπίς (lepis, scale) and πτερόν (pteron, wing).