The binomial nomenclature invented by Linnaeus in the 1750s has been the standard international system for naming Lepidoptera species. Each species, when scientifically described, is assigned a genus name with a capitalised initial letter followed by a lower-case species name, e.g. Aenetus virescens pictured below. Traditionally, most such names are formed from Greek or Latin.
Each genus may comprise of one or more species. Genera are then grouped into families, standard ending '-idae' and these are grouped into super-families with standard ending '-oidea'.
For example, the super-family Noctuoidea includes families like the Noctuidae (owlet moths), which is known for its large number of species. This one is Ipana atronivea or the North Island lichen moth, sometimes referred to as the North Island zebra moth.
However, NZ’s moths tend to have few English, or common, names. For example, all of Britain's 900 or so macro-moths have common names, often describing particular attributes or their history. Micro-moths rarely have recognised English names as there are inconspicuous and therefore far less familiar to the amateur lepidopterist.
As of 2025 the Lepidoptera of NZ belongs to a total of 49 families, ordered traditionally from the most ancient or 'primitive' to the most recently evolved 'advanced' form. Members of a family tend to be a similar shape, size and behaviour. For example, the approximately 165 members of the Noctuidae family are stout moths with thick bodies, wings held across the back when at rest with a forewing length greater than 15 mm and almost exclusively active at night.
Another large family are the Geometrids with nearly 280 species. They have thin bodies and at rest, most, like Hydriomena deltoidata, hold their wings flat in a butterfly shape. They have a rather weak fluttering flight and, as many fly around dusk or dawn and some during the daytime, they could be mistaken for butterflies.
The geometrids include several large sub-families, standard ending '-inae', notably the carpets, pugs and allies. The family name comes from the Greek for ground-measurer, after the odd, looping walk of their caterpillars.
While NZ is poorly represented by some of the larger moth groups which are diverse overseas, it is blessed especially in the range and diversity of the smaller, micro-moths. For example, the litter-feeding Oecophoridae with more than 140 species, and the largely moss-feeding Scoparinae with over 130. Also, the very small, diverse tineids, many forest dwelling with 70 species, see examples below.
