The taxonomy tree of the animal kingdom consists of many branches. One of the main branches of that tree is a group of multicellular organisms. The Lepidoptera is a group of insects, including the butterflies, which is a side branch of that main branch. The branches of this tree run from the order (exit ~ cera) by the sub-order (exit ~ eura) and then the superfamily (exit ~ idea) to the family (exit ~ idae).
Each family has several subfamilies (ending ~ inae) which can have multiple tribes (ending ~ ini), sometimes also a subtribe (ending ~ina), and each tribe has 1 or more genera, sometimes subgenera, so that you arrive at the final species. Sometimes, there are no tribes, and the genera fall directly under the subfamily. The classification of subfamilies and tribes is not always consistent. My starting point is the database of the US government’s National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
The families and subfamilies are described per category (butterflies, macro-moths, and micro-moths). The link refers to the related page for each (sub)family where a species was spotted and described.
Butterflies
| Family | Subfamily |
|---|---|
| Hesperiidae (Skippers) | Coeliadinae (Policemen) |
| Eudaminae (Dicot Skippers) | |
| Hesperiinae (Grass Skippers) | |
| Heteropterinae (Skipperlings) | |
| Malazinae | |
| Megathyminae (Giant Skippers) | |
| Pyrginae (Spread-wing Skippers) | |
| Pyrrhopyginae (Firetips) | |
| Trapezitinae (Australian Skippers) | |
| Lycaenidae (Gossamer-wings) | Aphaneinae |
| Curetinae | |
| Lycaeninae (Coppers) | |
| Miletinae (Harvesters) | |
| Polyommatinae(Blues) | |
| Poritiinae | |
| Theclinae(Hairstreak Butterflies) | |
| Nymphalidae (Brushfoots) | Apaturinae (Emperor Butterflies) |
| Biblidinae (Tropical Brushfoots) | |
| Calinaginae | |
| Charaxinae (Leafwings) | |
| Cyrestinae (Daggerwings) | |
| Danainae (Milkweed Butterflies) | |
| Heliconiinae (Longwings, Fritillaries & Silverspots) | |
| Libytheinae (Snout Butterflies) | |
| Limenitidinae (Admirals) | |
| Nymphalinae (Tortoiseshells, Admirals & Commas) | |
| Satyrinae (Graylings, Ringlets, Brown & Heaths) | |
| Papilionidae (Swallowtail Butterflies) | Baroniinae |
| Papilioninae (Swallowtails) | |
| Parnassiinae (Apollo Butterflies) | |
| Pieridae (White, Yellow & Sulphur Butterflies) | Coliadinae (Sulphurs & Yellows) |
| Dismorphiinae (Mimic Sulphurs) | |
| Pierinae (Whites) | |
| Pseudopontiinae | |
| Riodinidae (Metalmark Butterflies) | Nemeobiinae |
| Riodininae |
Macro-moths
| Familie | Onderfamilie |
|---|---|
| Aididae | |
| Anomoeotidae | |
| Anomosetidae | |
| Anthalidae (Australian Lappet Moths) | Anthelinae |
| Munychryiinae | |
| Apatelodidae (American Silkworm Moths) | Apatelodinae |
| Bombycidae (Silkworm Moths) | Bombycinae |
| Epiinae | |
| Oberthuerinae | |
| Brachodidae | Brachodinae |
| Phycodinae | |
| Brahmacidae (Brahmin Moths) | |
| Carthaeidae (Australian Silkworm Moths) | |
| Cossidae (Carpenter Moths) | Chilecomadiinae |
| Cossinae | |
| Cossulinae | |
| Hypoptinae | |
| Mehariinae | |
| Metarbelinae | |
| Zeuzerinae | |
| Cyclotornidae | |
| Dalceridae | |
| Doidae (Doid Moths) | |
| Drepanidae (Hook-tip Moths) | Cyclidiinae |
| Drepaninae | |
| Oretinae | |
| Thyatirinae | |
| Dudgeoneidae | |
| Endromidae (Glory Moths) | |
| Epicopeiidae (Oriental Swallowtail Moths) | |
| Epipyropidae | |
| Erebidae (Erebid Moths) | Aganainae |
| Anobinae | |
| Arctiinae (Tiger Moths) | |
| Boletobiinae (Beautiful Hooktips) | |
| Calpinae | |
| Erebinae (Red Underwings) | |
| Eulepidotinae | |
| Herminiinae (Fan-foot Moths) | |
| Hypeninae (Snout Moths) | |
| Hypenodinae | |
| Hypocalinae | |
| Scolecocampinae | |
| Scoliopteryginae (Herald Moths) | |
| Toxocampinae (Blackneck Moths) | |
| Eupterotidae (Giant Lappet Moths) | Eupterotinae |
| Janinae | |
| Panacelinae | |
| Striphnopteryginae | |
| Euteliidae (Euteliid Moths) | Euteliinae |
| Stictopterinae | |
| Geometridae (Geometer Moths) | Alsophilinae (Alsophiline Moths) |
| Archiearinae | |
| Desmobathrinae | |
| Ennominae (Ennomines) | |
| Geometrinae (Geometrines) | |
| Larentiinae (Larentiines) | |
| Oenochrominae | |
| Orthostixinae | |
| Sterrhinae (Sterrhines) | |
| Hepialidae (Ghost Moths) | |
| Heterogynidae (Mediterranean Burnet Moths) | |
| Himantopteridae (Long-tailed Burnet Moths) | |
| Lacturidae (Tropical Burnet Moths) | |
| Lasiocampidae (Lappet Moths) | Chionopsychinae |
| Gastropachinae | |
| Lasiocampinae | |
| Macromphaliinae | |
| Pinarinae | |
| Poecilocampinae | |
| Lemoniidae (Autumn Silkworm Moths) | |
| Limacodidae (Slug Caterpillar Moths) | |
| Lymantriidae (Tussock Moths) | |
| Megalopygidae (Flannel Moths) | |
| Micronoctuidae | |
| Noctuidae (Owlet Moths) | Acontiinae |
| Acronictinae | |
| Aediinae | |
| Agaristinae | |
| Amphipyrinae | |
| Bagisarinae | |
| Bryophilinae | |
| Catocalinae | |
| Cocytiinae | |
| Condicinae | |
| Cuculliinae | |
| Dilobinae | |
| Eriopinae | |
| Eublemminae | |
| Eustrotiinae | |
| Hadeninae | |
| Heliothinae | |
| Ipimorphinae | |
| Metopiinae | |
| Noctuinae | |
| Oncocnemidinae | |
| Ophiderinae | |
| Pantheinae | |
| Phytometrinae | |
| Plusiinae | |
| Psaphidinae | |
| Stiriinae | |
| Strepsimaninae | |
| Thiacidinae | |
| Xyleninae | |
| Nolidae (Tuft Moths) | Bleninae |
| Chloephorinae | |
| Collomeninae | |
| Eariadinae | |
| Eligminae | |
| Nolinae | |
| Risobinae | |
| Westermanniinae | |
| Notodontidae (Prominent Moths) | Biretinae |
| Ceirinae | |
| Cerurinae | |
| Dicranurinae | |
| Dioptinae | |
| Dudusinae | |
| Hemiceratinae | |
| Heterocampinae | |
| Notodontinae | |
| Nystaleinae | |
| Phalerinae | |
| Platychasmatinae | |
| Ptilodontinae | |
| Pygaerinae | |
| Rifargiriinae | |
| Stauropinae | |
| Thaumetopoeinae | |
| Oenosandridae | |
| Palaeosetidae | |
| Pantheidae | |
| Phiditiidae | |
| Prototheoridae | |
| Pseudobistonidae | |
| Saturniidae (Emperor Moths) | Agliinae |
| Arsenurinae | |
| Bunaeinae | |
| Ceratocampinae | |
| Cercophaninae | |
| Hemileucinae | |
| Oxyteninae (Tropical American Silkworm Moths) | |
| Salassinae | |
| Saturniinae | |
| Sematuridae (American Swallowtail Moths) | |
| Sessiidae (Clearwing Moths) | Sesiinae |
| Tinthiinae | |
| Somabrachyidae (Mediterranean Flannel Moths) | |
| Sphingidae (Hawkmoths) | Macroglossinae |
| Smerenthinae | |
| Sphinginae (Small-eyed Sphinx Moth) | |
| Thyrididae (Picture-winged Leaf Moths) | Siculodinae |
| Striglininae | |
| Thyridinae | |
| Uraniidae (Swallowtail Moths) | Auzeinae |
| Epipleminae | |
| Microniinae | |
| Uraniinae | |
| Zygaenidae (Burnets) | Callizygaeninae |
| Chalcosiinae | |
| Phaudinae | |
| Procridinae | |
| Zygaeninae |
Micro-moths
| Family | Subfamily |
|---|---|
| Acanthopteroctetidae (Archaic Sun Moths) | |
| Acrolophidae | |
| Adelidae (Fairy Moths) | |
| Agonoxinidea (Palm Moths) | Agonoxeninae |
| Alucitidae (Many-plume Moths) | |
| Amphisbatidae | Amphisbatinae |
| Argyresthiidae (Shiny-head Standing Moths) | |
| Arrhenophanidae | |
| Attevidae | |
| Autostichidae (Autostichid Moths) | Autostichinae |
| Deocloninae | |
| Holcopogoninae | |
| Symmocinae | |
| Batrachedridae (Batrachedrid Moths) | Batrachedrinae |
| Bedelliidae (Bedelliid Moths) | |
| Blastobasidae (Scavenger Moths) | |
| Bucculatricidae | |
| Carposinidae (Fruitworm Moths) | |
| Castniidae (Castniid Moths) | Castniinae |
| Synemoninae | |
| Cecidosidae (Gall Moths) | |
| Choreutidae (Choreuitid Moths) | Brenthiinae |
| Choreutinae | |
| Millierinae | |
| Coleophoridae (Casebearer Moths) | |
| Copromorphidae (Tropical Fruitworm Moths) | |
| Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths) | Antequerinae |
| Chrysopeleiinae | |
| Cosmopteriginae | |
| Scaeosophinae | |
| Crambidae (Grass Moths) | Acentropinae |
| Crambinae | |
| Cybalomiinae | |
| Evergestinae | |
| Glaphyriinae | |
| Heliothelinae | |
| Linostinae | |
| Midilinae | |
| Musotiminae | |
| Noordinae | |
| Odontiinae | |
| Pyraustinae | |
| Schoenobiinae | |
| Scopariinae | |
| Spilomelinae | |
| Wurthiinae | |
| Crinopterygidae | |
| Deoclonidae | |
| Depressariidae (Flat-bodies) | Depressariinae |
| Deuterogoniidae | |
| Douglasiidae | |
| Dryadaulidae | |
| Elechistidae (Grass Miner Moths) | Aelanthinae |
| Elachistinae | |
| Ethmiinae | |
| Parametriotinae | |
| Stenomatinae | |
| Epermeniidae (Epermeniid Moths) | |
| Epimarptidae | |
| Eriocottidae | |
| Eriocraniidae (Eriocraniid Moths) | |
| Galacticidae (Galacticid Moths) | |
| Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths) | Anancampsinae |
| Anomologinae | |
| Apatetrine | |
| Brachmiinae | |
| Chelariinae | |
| Dichromeridinae | |
| Gelechiinae | |
| Physoptilinae | |
| Thiotrichinae | |
| Glyphidoceridae (Glyphidocerid Moths) | |
| Glyphipterigidae (Sedge Moths) | |
| Gracillariidae (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths) | Acrocercopinae |
| Gracillariinae | |
| Lithocolletinae | |
| Marmarinae | |
| Oecophyllembiinae | |
| Ornixolinae | |
| Parornichinae | |
| Phyllocnistinae | |
| Heliodinidae (Heliodinid Moths) | |
| Heliozelidae | |
| Hyblaeidae | |
| Incurvariidae (Leafcutter Moths) | |
| Lecithoceridae (Long-horned Moths) | Ceuthomadarinae |
| Lecithocerinae | |
| Oditinae | |
| Torodorinae | |
| Lyonetiidae (Lyonetiid Moths) | |
| Lypusidae (Curved-horn Moths) | |
| Meessiidae | |
| Momphidae (Mompha Moths) | |
| Nepticulidae (Minute Leaf Miner Moths) | Nepticulinae |
| Pectinivalvinae | |
| Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths) | Chimabachinae |
| Hypertrophinae | |
| Oecophorinae | |
| Opostegidae (White Cap-eye Moths) | |
| Peleopodidae (Peleopodid Moths) | |
| Plutellidae (Diamondback Moths) | |
| Praydidae (Praydid Moths) | |
| Prodoxidae (Yucca Moths) | |
| Psychidae (Bagworm Moths) | Arrhenophaninae |
| Epichnopteriginae | |
| Lypusinae | |
| Metisinae | |
| Naryciinae | |
| Oiketicinae | |
| Placodominae | |
| Pseudarbelinae | |
| Psychinae | |
| Scoriodytinae | |
| Taleporiinae | |
| Typhoniinae | |
| Pterolonchidae (Plume Moths) | |
| Pterophoridae (Plume Moths) | Agdistinae |
| Deuterocopinae | |
| Macropiratinae | |
| Platyptiliinae | |
| Pterophorinae | |
| Pyralidae (Snout Moths) | Chrysauginae |
| Epipaschiinae | |
| Galleriinae | |
| Odontinae | |
| Phycitinae | |
| Pyralinae | |
| Roeslerstammiidae | |
| Schreckensteiniidae (Bristle-legged Moths) | |
| Scythrididae (Scythridid Moths) | |
| Scythropiidae | |
| Stathmopodidae (Stathmopodid Moths) | |
| Tineidae (Clothes Moths) | Erechthiinae |
| Euplocaminae | |
| Hapsiferinae | |
| Harmacloninae | |
| Hieroxestinae | |
| Myrmecozelinae | |
| Nemapogoninae | |
| Perissomasticinae | |
| Scardiinae | |
| Setomorphinae | |
| Siloscinae | |
| Teichobiinae | |
| Tineinae | |
| Tineodidae (False Plume Moths) | |
| Tischeriidae (Tischeriid Moths) | |
| Tortricidae (Leaf-roller Moths) | Chlidanotinae |
| Cnephasiinae | |
| Olethreutinae | |
| Sparganothinae | |
| Tortricinae | |
| Urodidae (False Burnet Moths) | |
| Xyloryctidae (Flower Moths) | |
| Yponomeutidae (Ermine Moths) | Saridoscelinae |
| Yponomeutinae | |
| Ypsolophidae (Ypsolophid Moths) |
