No wish to bug Nabokovians,  but a question in need of  an answer. 

 

       Why did Nabokov,  a lepidopterist, call Lolita a nymphet?  Lepidoptera do not have nymphs, they have larvae. 

 

        Only ancient insects, primitive insects if you will, such as the Plecoptera (stoneflies) and the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) have nymphs. 

 

         Should Lolita have been a larvalet instead of a nymphet? 

 

         Or was VN thinking of Lolita as a damselfly and thus a nymphet?  Please,  a definitive entomological/etymological answer.  Thank you,.

 

           RHB