Depressariidae
Guides
Agonopterix
flat-body moths
Agonopterix is a genus of small moths in the family Depressariidae, superfamily Gelechioidea. Species are commonly known as "flat-body moths" due to their characteristic flattened resting posture. The genus exhibits considerable cryptic diversity, particularly in Mediterranean and temperate regions, with many species distinguished by subtle differences in wing pattern and genitalia structure. Several species have been studied for their specialized host plant relationships, including some with potential as biological control agents.
Agonopterix argillacea
Clay-colored Agonopterix Moth
Agonopterix argillacea is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Walsingham in 1881. It is known from a broad range across North America, from the Pacific coast through the Great Plains to the Atlantic provinces and southeastern United States. The species has been documented from 915 iNaturalist observations.
Agonopterix cajonensis
Agonopterix cajonensis is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by John Frederick Gates Clarke in 1941. It is known only from California in western North America. Adults have distinctive forewing patterning with grayish fuscous ground color overlaid with ocherous-white markings.
Agonopterix canadensis
Canadian agonopterix, Canadian Agonopterix Moth
Agonopterix canadensis is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, with forewings measuring 8.5–10.5 mm. The species occurs across a broad North American range from the northeastern United States and southern Canada westward through the Rocky Mountains to Colorado, California, and Nevada. Larvae feed on Senecio species, including Senecio serra.
Agonopterix clemensella
Clemens' Agonopterix
Agonopterix clemensella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae. It is distributed across eastern North America from Ontario south to Arkansas and east to the Atlantic states. The species inhabits damp woods and meadows. Larvae are specialized feeders on plants in the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). Adults overwinter, an unusual life history trait among moths of this group.
Agonopterix dimorphella
Agonopterix dimorphella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae described by Clarke in 1941. It is found in the central and eastern United States, with records from South Carolina, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, and Arkansas. The species has a wingspan of 11–18 mm and distinctive reddish-ocherous forewings with fuscous shading and contrasting black and yellow discal spots. Larvae feed on Amorpha fruticosa, a North American shrub in the pea family.
Agonopterix eupatoriiella
Agonopterix eupatoriiella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described from North America in 1878. It has a wingspan of approximately 24 mm and exhibits dark, dusted forewings with distinctive costal streaking. The species is associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly Eupatorium species.
Agonopterix flavicomella
Agonopterix flavicomella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Engel in 1907. The species is distributed across the eastern and midwestern United States. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 16 mm and are active during spring, summer, and early autumn. Larvae are known to feed on two specific host plants: Heracleum lanatum (cow parsnip) and Taenidia integerrima (yellow pimpernel).
Agonopterix hyperella
Agonopterix hyperella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by Charles Russell Ely in 1910. It is known from the eastern United States, with records from Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. The species is associated with Hypericum (St. John's wort) as a larval host plant, with larvae feeding on Hypericum prolificum and Hypericum perforatum.
Agonopterix lecontella
Agonopterix lecontella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described from Pennsylvania in 1860. The species is distinguished by its dark ocherous forewings with scattered blackish-brown dots. Its larvae are known to feed on the wild indigo Baptisia tinctoria. The species remains poorly documented, with few observations recorded.
Agonopterix lythrella
A small moth in the family Depressariidae described by Walsingham in 1889. It is found in northeastern and north-central North America, ranging from the Canadian prairies to the Atlantic coast and south to North Carolina. The species has a wingspan of approximately 15 mm and distinctive tawny-reddish forewings with characteristic pattern elements.
Agonopterix nebulosa
Agonopterix nebulosa is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1873. The species occurs in eastern North America, with records from six U.S. states. Adults are active during late spring, with larvae that feed specifically on Antennaria plantaginifolia by tying together the leaves of their host plant.
Agonopterix pteleae
A small moth in the family Depressariidae, described from North America in 1920. Adults have distinctive mottled brown forewings with prominent dark markings. Larvae are known to feed on Ptelea trifoliata (common hoptree). The species has a restricted distribution centered on the Great Lakes region.
Agonopterix pulvipennella
Goldenrod Leaffolder Moth
Agonopterix pulvipennella is a small moth species in the family Depressariidae, commonly known as the Goldenrod Leaffolder Moth. It is widely distributed across North America, with adults active throughout most of the year. The species is associated with goldenrod and nettle plants during its larval stage.
Agonopterix sabulella
Agonopterix sabulella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by Walsingham in 1881. It is native to western North America, with records spanning from British Columbia and Alberta south through the western United States to Arizona and California. The species appears to be associated with arid and semi-arid environments, as suggested by its specific epithet (from Latin 'sabulum', meaning sand or gravel). Like other members of Agonopterix, it likely has concealed larval habits, though detailed biology remains poorly documented.
Agonopterix senicionella
Agonopterix senicionella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by August Busck in 1902. It is restricted to the eastern United States, with records from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae feed exclusively on Packera aurea, a plant formerly classified as Senecio aureus. Adults are recognized by their distinctive wing pattern of dark ochrous gray with brownish suffusion and characteristic black discal dots.
Agonopterix walsinghamella
Walsingham's Agonopterix Moth
Agonopterix walsinghamella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by August Busck in 1902. Adults are distinguished by their striking deep crimson-red forewings with black and ash-gray speckling and white discal spots. The species occurs in northeastern North America, where its larvae feed on plants in the Myricaceae family.
Antaeotricha
Antaeotricha is a large genus of moths in the family Depressariidae, containing over 400 described species in the Western Hemisphere. It represents the largest genus within the subfamily Stenomatinae. Species in this genus are primarily Neotropical in distribution, with many exhibiting specialized habitat associations such as dry sandhills and scrub vegetation. The genus was established by Zeller in 1854 and has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with numerous species described in recent years.
Antaeotricha agrioschista
Antaeotricha agrioschista is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1927. It is known from Texas, North America, and is characterized by its distinctive wing patterning of light grey forewings overlaid with white and sprinkled with dark fuscous markings. The species has a wingspan of 20–21 mm. Limited information exists regarding its biology, host associations, and ecological relationships.
Antaeotricha albulella
vestal moth
Antaeotricha albulella, commonly known as the vestal moth, is a small moth species in the family Depressariidae. First described by Francis Walker in 1864, it is distributed across the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. The species is characterized by predominantly white forewings with distinctive dark markings. It has been historically confused with the closely related Antaeotricha floridella, which occurs in drier sandhill habitats of peninsular Florida.
Antaeotricha baboquivariensis
Antaeotricha baboquivariensis is a species of moth in the family Depressariidae, subfamily Stenomatinae. It was described by Ferris in 2013. The species belongs to the genus Antaeotricha, a group of small to medium-sized moths found primarily in the New World. As a recently described species, detailed information about its biology and ecology remains limited.
Antaeotricha furcata
Antaeotricha furcata is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by Lord Walsingham in 1889. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and New Mexico. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in wing coloration and size.
Antaeotricha fuscorectangulata
Antaeotricha fuscorectangulata is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by W. Donald Duckworth in 1964. It is known from Arizona in North America. The species is characterized by distinctive wing patterning that includes a rectangular dark area along the inner margin of the forewing.
Antaeotricha haesitans
Antaeotricha haesitans is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Lord Walsingham in 1912. The species is characterized by a wingspan of approximately 12 mm and distinctive fawn-ochreous forewings with brown patterning. Its distribution spans parts of Mexico and the southern United States.
Antaeotricha humilis
Dotted Anteotricha Moth
Antaeotricha humilis is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1855. It is widespread across the eastern and central United States, where its larvae feed on oak species by tying leaves together. Adults are characterized by their small size and pale, subtly marked forewings with distinctive brown spotting.
Antaeotricha leucillana
Pale Gray Bird-dropping Moth
Antaeotricha leucillana, commonly known as the pale gray bird-dropping moth, is a small moth species in the family Depressariidae. First described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1854, it is widely distributed across eastern and central North America. The species exhibits a bird-dropping mimicry coloration as adults and has documented larval associations with several woody plant genera.
Antaeotricha osseella
Antaeotricha osseella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Walsingham in 1889. It is found across eastern and central North America, with records from New York to California. The species has a wingspan of approximately 16–18 mm. Its larvae feed on white oak (Quercus alba) and chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii).
Antaeotricha thomasi
Antaeotricha thomasi is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by William Barnes and August Busck in 1920. It is native to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The species is characterized by its plain, unmarked pale wings, which distinguish it from many congeners that typically display various spotting or patterning.
Antipella unidentified-fl-sp
Antipella unidentified-fl-sp is an undescribed or provisionally catalogued species within the genus Antipella, a group of small moths in the family Depressariidae. This entry represents a Florida population that has not been formally described in the scientific literature. Members of this genus are generally associated with wooded habitats and are characterized by their relatively plain wing patterns and slender bodies. The specific identity of this Florida specimen remains unresolved pending taxonomic revision.
Apachea barberella
Apachea barberella is a moth species and the sole member of the genus Apachea in the family Depressariidae. Described by August Busck in 1902, it is known from scattered records across western North America. The species remains poorly documented with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Bibarrambla
bog bibarrambla moth (sole species)
Bibarrambla is a monotypic genus of moths in the family Depressariidae, containing only Bibarrambla allenella, commonly known as the bog bibarrambla moth. The genus was established by Clarke in 1941, though the sole species was described earlier by Walsingham in 1882. The species occurs in eastern and central North America, with larvae feeding on Alnus and Betula species.
Bibarrambla allenella
Bog Bibarrambla Moth
Bibarrambla allenella is a small moth species and the sole member of its genus. It occurs in wetland habitats across northern and eastern North America. The species was first described by Walsingham in 1882 from specimens collected in the region.
Chlamydastis
Chlamydastis is a genus of moths in the subfamily Stenomatinae, family Depressariidae. The genus was established by Edward Meyrick in 1916 and contains approximately 80 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Species within this genus are generally small moths with varied wing patterns, though specific morphological characters defining the genus require detailed examination.
Cymbaeremoidea
Cymbaeremoidea is a genus of small moths in the family Depressariidae. Species in this genus are poorly documented in the literature, with limited information available on their biology and distribution. The genus appears to be associated with specific host plants, though details remain sparse. Most records indicate a primarily Australasian distribution.
Depressaria alienella
Yarrow Webworm
Depressaria alienella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by August Busck in 1904. It occurs across northern and western North America, from Yukon to Nova Scotia and south to Arizona and California. The larvae feed on flowers of Artemisia and Achillea species. Adults are active from July through September.
Ethmia
Ethmia is a large genus of small gelechioid moths comprising over 250 described species globally. The genus serves as the type genus for family Ethmiidae (sometimes treated as subfamily within Elachistidae or Oecophoridae). Species are characterized by distinctive black, white, and gray patterned forewings, and most larvae feed on plants in the Boraginaceae family, with Gesneriaceae recorded as an additional host family in the Neotropics. The genus exhibits greatest diversity in arid and semi-arid regions, with substantial radiations in southwestern North America and the Neotropics.
Ethmia albicostella
Pale-edged Ethmia Moth
Ethmia albicostella is a small moth species in the family Depressariidae, distributed across the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Madre Occidental. The species is notable for its distinctive wing pattern featuring a straight longitudinal line dividing dark and pale areas. Adults are active during mid-summer, and larvae feed specifically on Lithospermum species in the Boraginaceae family.
Ethmia apicipunctella
Ethmia apicipunctella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, found in southwestern North America and adjacent Mexico. The species is characterized by variable black spotting on white or pale gray forewings and whitish hindwings with brownish tinging toward the apical area. Adults are active from March to July. The genus Ethmia was formerly placed in Coleophoridae but is now classified in Depressariidae.
Ethmia bipunctella
Ethmia bipunctella is a diurnal moth in the family Depressariidae, originally described by Fabricius in 1775. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, Asia, and northeastern North America. It is bivoltine, producing two generations per year with adult flight activity from May through September. The species was formerly considered to include E. iranella as a subspecies, but this taxon is now recognized as distinct.
Ethmia brevistriga
Ethmia brevistriga is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, endemic to California. Adults are active from March to mid-May. The species exhibits distinct wing patterning with a white line on dark brown forewings, and has two recognized subspecies showing habitat-related color variation. Larvae are specialized feeders on Phacelia distans.
Ethmia burnsella
Ethmia burnsella is a small moth species in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae), described by Powell in 1973. It is known only from northern Texas in the United States. The species is characterized by distinctive wing coloration with pale ocherous forewings featuring contrasting dark markings. Like other members of the genus Ethmia, it likely has larvae that feed on plants in the Boraginaceae family or related families, though specific host records for this species are not documented.
Ethmia delliella
Ladder-backed Ethmia Moth
Ethmia delliella, commonly known as the ladder-backed ethmia moth, is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (sometimes placed in Depressariidae). Adults have a forewing length of 9–12 mm with distinctive black-and-white patterning that reflects metallic steel blue. The species ranges from the Gulf region of Texas and Mexico southward through Central America to Costa Rica. Adults are active from March to October in Texas and April to August elsewhere, with multiple generations per year.
Ethmia discostrigella
mountain-mahogany moth
Ethmia discostrigella, commonly known as the mountain-mahogany moth, is a small moth in the family Depressariidae. It occurs across western North America from the western United States south into Mexico. The species exhibits notable geographic variation, with two recognized subspecies occupying distinct ranges separated by the Sierra Nevada: the nominate subspecies east of the Sierra Nevada and subspecies subcaerulea west of the range. Larvae feed on Cercocarpus species (mountain-mahogany), making this a host-specialist moth with clear ecological ties to its namesake plant.
Ethmia lassenella
Ethmia lassenella is a small moth species in the family Ethmiidae, found in the western United States. Adults are active in early spring, with a distinctive appearance featuring steel gray forewings marked with bright red-orange and black spots, and white hindwings with a broad black marginal band. The species is one of approximately 50 Ethmia species occurring north of Mexico, most of which are concentrated in the southwestern United States.
Ethmia monticola
Gray Ethmia Moth
Ethmia monticola, the gray ethmia moth, is a small moth in the family Depressariidae found across western North America. Adults are active from May to July and are characterized by their slate gray forewings with conspicuous black markings. The species exhibits considerable geographic variation across its range, with three recognized subspecies occupying distinct regions from the Pacific Northwest to the southern Rocky Mountains and eastern North America.
Ethmia semiombra
Ethmia semiombra is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (Depressariidae in some classifications) found in Texas and Mexico. Adults exhibit a distinctive wing pattern with dark coloration on the costal half of the forewings contrasting with whitish, gray-tinged dorsal half. The species shows pronounced seasonality with adults active in February, May, June, September (Texas), and July (Tamaulipas), suggesting multiple generations per year. Two subspecies are recognized: E. s. semiombra in eastern Mexico and southern Texas, and E. s. nebulombra in the Yucatán.
Ethmia semitenebrella
Ethmia semitenebrella is a moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Dyar in 1902. It is distributed across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with a bivoltine flight period from April to August. The species is characterized by distinct wing patterning with dark gray forewing costal halves contrasting with whitish gray dorsal halves. Larvae feed on Cercocarpus ledifolius and likely other Cercocarpus species.
Ethmia submissa
Ethmia submissa is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae, found in the Caribbean and southern Florida. The species is one of approximately 50 Ethmia species known north of Mexico, with most occurring in the southwestern United States. Adults are active during multiple periods throughout the year, with flight times varying by region. The species is notable for its distinctive wing pattern that distinguishes it from similar congeners.
Ethmia trifurcella
Ethmia trifurcella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, distributed across eastern and central North America. The species is characterized by distinctive forewing patterning with a sinuate longitudinal line dividing dark and pale areas. Larvae are specialized herbivores that construct tubular shelters on host plant leaves.
Ethmia umbrimarginella
Ethmia umbrimarginella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Busck in 1907. It is found in the southwestern United States, specifically in southern Arizona and New Mexico. The species is characterized by its distinctive wing pattern: dark slate gray forewings with a dirty white costal edge, and white hindwings with a broad dark gray margin. Adults have been recorded in February.