External-feeding
Guides
Yponomeutoidea
Ermine Moths and Allies
Yponomeutoidea is a superfamily of Lepidoptera comprising approximately 1,800 species worldwide, predominantly distributed in temperate regions. The group includes eleven families: Argyresthiidae, Attevidae, Bedelliidae, Glyphipterigidae, Heliodinidae, Lyonetiidae, Plutellidae, Praydidae, Scythropiidae, Yponomeutidae, and Ypsolophidae. Yponomeutoidea represents one of the earliest lepidopteran lineages to evolve external feeding on foliage and to colonize herbaceous plants in addition to woody shrubs and trees. Larval habits are diverse, including leaf-mining, external feeding, and boring behaviors, with many species exhibiting specialized host plant associations.