Menoptera

The Menoptera (alternatively spelt Menoptra) were one of the advanced species on the planet Vortis.

Biology
Menoptera basically resemble man-sized humanoid butterflies.

Technology
The Menoptera had weapons such as the Isop-tope device, a living cell destructor (DW: The Web Planet), and also a fleet of spacecraft. (MA: Twilight of the Gods).

History
The Menoptera were native to Vortis, but due to the Animus' invasion of the planet via mind control of the Zarbi, they fled to Vortis' moon, Pictos. Eventually, they warred against the Animus and the Zarbi with the Doctor, Barbara Wright, Ian Chesterton and Vicki, eventually defeating the Animus, leaving the inhabitants of Vortis to resolve their differences peacefully. (DW: The Web Planet)

Several years later, Vortis ended up in the nearby Rhumos system, home of a warring race, so the planet becomes disputed territory, the Menoptera being made slaves, a seed of the Animus suriving and builing up a slave force from the Rhumon dead not helping. Eventually, The Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon and Victoria Waterfield helped the Menoptera defeast the Animus again, and made the Rhomons declare Vortis neutral ground. (MA: Twilight of the Gods)

Behind the Scenes
Production information for the television story The Web Planet originally spelled the name Menoptra. The novelization and subsequent stories, however, have used the name Menoptera. The latter spelling had caught on.