Nemapogon

Schrank, 1802

Fungus moths

Species Guides

Nemapogon acapnopennella
Nemapogon angulifasciella(Black-patched Nemapogon)
Nemapogon auropulvella
Nemapogon clematella(Barred White Clothes Moth)
Nemapogon cloacella(Cork Moth)
Nemapogon defectella
Nemapogon geniculatella
Nemapogon granella(European grain worm)
Nemapogon interstitiella

Nemapogon is a of small tineid moths in the Nemapogoninae, comprising approximately 69 described as of 2007. Species occupy woodland where larvae develop within bracket fungi on dead wood. Some species are attracted to light and may occasionally be captured in traps intended for clothes moths. The genus includes species with divergent feeding habits: most are fungivores, while at least one species (N. gersimovi) has been intercepted feeding on stored seeds and grains.

Nemapogon cloacella by no rights reserved, uploaded by Andreas Manz. Used under a CC0 license.

Nemapogon cloacella by no rights reserved, uploaded by Matthew Wilkinson. Used under a CC0 license.

Nemapogon cloacella by (c) Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nemapogon: //ˌnɛməˈpoʊɡɒn//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Nemapogon are small that may be mistaken for clothes moths (Tineola spp., Tinea spp.) due to similar size and general appearance. Accurate identification to species level requires examination of genitalia and other microscopic features. of some species show light speckling or mottled patterns.

Images

Habitat

Woodland with dead wood and bracket fungi. Larvae develop within fungal fruiting bodies on decaying broadleaved wood, particularly birch.

Distribution

Recorded from Europe (including Denmark, Norway, Sweden), North America (Vermont, USA), and Asia (China). -specific distributions vary: N. koenigi is locally distributed in Britain (widest in England north to Cumbria) with sparse records from Ireland (first recorded 2015, County Antrim).

Seasonality

fly from late spring into summer. Specific periods vary by and latitude.

Diet

Larvae of most feed within bracket fungi on dead wood of broadleaved trees including birch. Nemapogon gersimovi has been intercepted in association with soybeans and is reported to feed on seeds and grains.

Host Associations

Annulohypoxylon multiforme - larval foodbracket fungus on dead wood
Fomitopsis betulina - larval foodbracket fungus on dead birch
dead birch - larval wood substrate for fungal food sources
broadleaved wood - larval general substrate for fungal food sources
soybeans - intercepted associationN. gersimovi found in shipment of bulk organic soybeans

Life Cycle

Larvae feed and develop within bracket fungi on dead wood. emerge and fly during late spring and summer. Specific details on -laying, , and stages are not documented in available sources.

Behavior

are attracted to light. Some may occasionally be captured in clothes- traps, leading to misidentification as household pests.

Ecological Role

and fungivore; larvae contribute to decomposition of dead wood through feeding on bracket fungi. Some may function as stored product pests.

Human Relevance

Generally not considered significant household textile pests despite occasional misidentification as clothes moths. Nemapogon gersimovi has been intercepted at ports as a potential agricultural pest due to seed-feeding , with one interception resulting in shipment re-exportation to prevent introduction.

Similar Taxa

Tineola bisselliellaSimilar size and appearance; clothes moth is a true textile pest while Nemapogon larvae feed on fungi in dead wood
Tinea pellionellaSimilar size and appearance; case-bearing clothes moth is a textile pest while most Nemapogon are woodland fungivores

Misconceptions

Often called or mistaken for clothes moths, but most Nemapogon are not household textile pests. Larval feeding on fungi in dead wood distinguishes them from true clothes moths that feed on keratinous materials.

More Details

Genome sequencing

Nemapogon koenigi has been sequenced: assembly size 382.95 Mb with 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules including Z ; mitochondrial genome 15.68 kb. Specimens from Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK.

Taxonomic history

The has undergone multiple nomenclatural changes. The name Brosis was first proposed by Hübner in 1806 in an invalid work, then validly erected in 1822 but preoccupied by Billberg's use for what is now Incurvaria. Nematopogon Agassiz, 1847 was an unjustified emendation also preoccupied.