Why are butterflies and moths especially diverse in tropical regions?

Butterflies and moths, which belong to the order Lepidoptera, are significantly more diverse and numerous in tropical regions due to favorable environmental conditions that support high levels of biodiversity.12

Global gradients in species richness are largely driven by ecological factors that make the tropics more hospitable than temperate or polar zones. Specifically, the tropics offer higher temperatures, greater climate predictability, and longer growing seasons. These conditions create inviting habitats that permit a wider range of species to thrive.3

Because lepidopterans are often adapted to restricted ecological niches and rely on specific host plants, the lush and varied vegetation of tropical rainforests provides an abundance of suitable food supplies and habitats. This combination of environmental stability and resource availability allows for the development and maintenance of a greater variety of species compared to regions with harsher or more seasonal climates.123