Origins and Evolution

This chapter presents an overview of the evolution of the Lepidoptera, with special focus on groups with extant Australian representatives. Current views on the deep time origin of the Lepidoptera in the Carboniferous are discussed with a brief account of early fossils, as well as information from dated, recent phylogenies. The extant mandibulate moths are described with focus on the Micropterigidae and Agathiphagidae. Basal families within the proboscis-bearing Glossata are reviewed, focusing on the Australian families Aenigmatineidae, Lophocoronidae and the non-hepialid Exoporia. The major developments within the vast group of ‘higher’ Lepidoptera, the Heteroneura, follow, again with a focus on some Australian representatives. Consequences for approaches to classification and a brief overview of the evolution of feeding strategies conclude the account.