Unveiling the Evolutionary Relationships of Butterflies and Moths: A Cladistic Study of Insect Characters

Cladograms depict the hierarchical classification system in nature and show evolutionary relationships. Insects, chosen as the ingroup, provide valuable insights into evolution due to their diversity and evolutionary history. The selected characters for the cladogram construction include antennae, mouthparts, wings, abdomen length, and abdomen number. By analyzing shared derived characters (synapomorphies) and ensuring monophyly, the cladogram aims to uncover the phylogeny of butterflies and moths (Wheeler, 1985).