Lepidopterist

A lepidopterist is an entomologist who specialises in studying butterflies and moths. The name lepidopterist is derived from the name of the Order of butterflies and moths, Lepidoptera.

A little known passion of Sir Winston Churchill's was his concern for the diminishing numbers of British butterflies. In 1946 he planned a butterfly garden to increase the numbers of common species around his house at Chartwell, Kent. About 1,500 chrysalids were hatched each year in a summer house. Churchill would spend hours waiting for the moment when the butterflies emerged. Once on the wing he set them free.

Related terms

• Butterfly net
• Entomologist
• Lepidoptera
• Mercury vapour lamp
• Moth trap
• Naphthalene
• Net
• Sugaring
• Wine rope
• Zoologist

Related groups of terms

• General biology

Related pages on this web site

• A Guide to Moth Traps and their use
• Become an entomologist
• Butterflies and Moths - Order Lepidoptera

See other words beginning with L