The intensification of global climate change has made temperature fluctuations a critical abiotic factor affecting the survival and reproduction of ectothermic animals such as insects. These thermal fluctuations profoundly influence biological processes including growth, development, reproduction, and population dynamics, potentially reshaping the distribution patterns and ecological adaptability of species. Lepidoptera, one of the most diverse orders belonging to Insecta, includes numerous major pests in agriculture and forestry. Accordingly, the research on their thermal adaptation mechanisms is particularly significant. This paper systematically reviews the progress in research on thermal adaptation of Lepidopteran insects, focusing on the effects of temperature on insect growth, development, and reproduction, temperature-driven behavioral adaptation and ecological responses such as distribution pattern changes, physiological/biochemical mechanisms and molecular regulatory networks, and related research methods. It reveals that Lepidopteran insects possess unique body surface structures and regulatory networks for coping with thermal stress. The findings not only provide a theoretical basis for deciphering the evolutionary mechanisms of insect adaptation to climate change but also lay a scientific foundation for developing temperature-sensitive pest control strategies.