Gelechiid
Guides
Aristotelia
twirler moths
Aristotelia is a genus of micro-moths in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as twirler moths. These small, boldly marked moths are primarily nocturnal and attracted to artificial light sources. The genus contains approximately 35 named species in North America, with additional undescribed species awaiting scientific description. Larvae are specialized feeders on particular host plants, with diverse plant families including Salicaceae, Solanaceae, Rosaceae, Fagaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae documented as hosts across different species.
Aristotelia elegantella
Elegant Aristotelia
Aristotelia elegantella is a tiny moth in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as the Elegant Aristotelia. It was described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1874 and is found across much of North America, from southern Canada through the western and central United States. The species is notable for its striking wing pattern featuring bands of white, ochreous-yellow, and iridescent brown. It has been recorded at blacklight setups and appears to be attracted to artificial light sources.
Arogalea
Arogalea is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Walsingham in 1910. The genus contains seven recognized species distributed primarily in North America. These moths are typically encountered at light traps during nocturnal surveys. Arogalea cristifasciella, one of the better-known species, has been documented from Vermont and Kansas.
Battaristis cyclella
Battaristis cyclella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1903. It is known from the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and Utah. The species is characterized by distinctive wing patterning with contrasting dark olive-brown markings on a pale yellowish forewing background.
Bryotropha galbanella
Bryotropha galbanella is a small gelechiid moth with a broad distribution across northern Europe, extending eastward to Russia and Japan, and westward to Alaska and extreme north-western Canada. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in wingspan, with males measuring 14–18 mm and females 13–16 mm. Larvae are specialized feeders on mosses, particularly Dicranum scoparium, and construct silken tubes for shelter. The species has been incorrectly recorded from Chile.
Bryotropha similis
obscure neb
Bryotropha similis is a small gelechiid moth with a Holarctic distribution spanning northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, and the Palaearctic region. The species has a wingspan of 11–13 mm and exhibits distinctive wing patterning with dark fuscous forewings and faint pale markings. Adults are active from early June to late August, likely in a single annual generation. The species is known from the iNaturalist community as the 'obscure neb'.
Chionodes petalumensis
Chionodes petalumensis is a gelechiid moth species distributed across western North America from southern British Columbia to California, Arizona, and Colorado. The species was first described from Petaluma, California, which is reflected in its specific epithet. Its caterpillars are specialized feeders on oak leaves, with documented associations to Garry oak and valley oak.
Coleotechnites quercivorella
Coleotechnites quercivorella is a small gelechiid moth native to North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 11 mm. The species is widely distributed across Canada and the United States, with records spanning from British Columbia and Alberta to the Atlantic coast and south to Texas and California. Larvae are specialized feeders on oak (Quercus) species.
Dichomeris glenni
Glenn's Dichomeris Moth
Dichomeris glenni is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by John Frederick Gates Clarke in 1947. It is known from scattered records across central and eastern North America, from Ontario south to Florida and west to Kansas and Oklahoma. The species is one of many in the large genus Dichomeris, which contains hundreds of small, often poorly known moths.
Dichomeris heriguronis
Black-edged Dichomeris, Black-edged Carbatina, Black-edged Dichomeris Moth
A small gelechiid moth with forewings measuring 7.5–8.5 mm. Native to East Asia and the northeastern United States, with established exotic populations in the Netherlands. Larvae feed on Prunus species in Korea.
Dichomeris setosella
Dichomeris setosella is a gelechiid moth described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. It occurs across eastern and central North America, from Manitoba and New York south to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma. The species is recognized by distinctive forewing markings including a pale ochreous triangular patch at the costal base and dark brown patterning. Adults are active from March through November. Larvae feed on a diverse range of host plants including Asteraceae species and conifers.
Dichomeris simpliciella
Dichomeris simpliciella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1904. It is distributed across western and south-central North America, from southern Alberta through the western United States to Texas and northern Mexico. The species exhibits distinctive bicolored forewings with a sharp longitudinal division between light ochreous and dark fuscous areas. Adults are active during two periods: spring (April–June) and late summer through autumn (August–November).
Filatima epulatrix
Filatima epulatrix is a small gelechiid moth described by Hodges in 1969. It is known from scattered localities across North America, including British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, New York, and Oklahoma. The species has a wingspan of 15.5–17.5 mm. Larvae have been documented feeding on Malus sylvestris (wild apple).
Gnorimoschema gallaeasterella
Gnorimoschema gallaeasterella is a small gelechiid moth described by D.S. Kellicott in 1878. The species is known for forming spindle-shaped galls on its host plants. It occurs across a broad geographic range in North America, with records spanning from Quebec and Alberta in Canada south to California and Tennessee. Adults are active from summer through early autumn.
Gnorimoschema paternale
Gnorimoschema paternale is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Czech entomologist Dalibor Povolný in 2003. The species is known from a limited number of records in Arizona, North America. As a member of the genus Gnorimoschema, it belongs to a group of moths whose larvae are frequently associated with plant galls, though specific biological details for this species remain undocumented.
Gnorimoschema semicyclionella
Gnorimoschema semicyclionella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1903. It is known from the western United States, with records from Colorado, Oregon, Wyoming, and New Mexico. The species is characterized by distinctive forewing patterning featuring chocolate brown semicircular markings on a white ground color sprinkled with minute black-tipped scales. Like other members of its genus, it likely has concealed larval habits, though specific host plant associations remain undocumented.
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Five-spotted Twirler Moth
Monochroa quinquepunctella is a small gelechiid moth native to eastern North America. The species is readily identified by its distinctive pattern of five black dots arranged on pale yellowish forewings. It has been documented from the southeastern United States north to Quebec, with most records concentrated in the Appalachian and Gulf Coastal regions. The common name references both the five spots and the twirling flight characteristic of many gelechiid moths.
Neodactylota egena
Neodactylota egena is a small gelechiid moth described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1966. It is known from limited records in the southwestern United States, specifically California and Arizona. The species is characterized by its modest size and relatively plain gray-brown forewings with subtle discal markings.
Neotelphusa sequax
Crepuscular rock-rose moth
A small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of 11–14 mm. Adults are active in July. Larvae are specialized feeders on rock-rose species in the genus Helianthemum. Known from Europe and introduced to North America.
Scrobipalpa atriplicella
goosefoot groundling moth
Scrobipalpa atriplicella is a small gelechiid moth native to Eurasia, now established as an introduced species in North America. Adults have a wingspan of 10–14 mm and exhibit two generations per year. The species has emerged as a significant agricultural pest on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) in both Europe and North America, where larval feeding on seeds and foliage can cause complete crop loss. Originally associated with wild Chenopodiaceae including Chenopodium album and Atriplex species, its host range has expanded to include cultivated crops.
Sophronia teretracma
Sophronia teretracma is a small gelechiid moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1927. It is known only from Texas in the United States. The species exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism in forewing coloration, with females sometimes showing more extensive white suffusion.
Theisoa
Theisoa is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Chambers in 1874. It belongs to the subfamily Aristoteliinae, a group of gelechiid moths characterized by relatively narrow wings and often subtle patterning. Species within this genus are part of the diverse microlepidoptera fauna of North America, with records from the northeastern United States including Vermont.
Thiotricha laterestriata
Thiotricha laterestriata is a small gelechiid moth described by Thomas de Grey, 6th Baron Walsingham, in 1897. It is characterized by distinctive wing patterning with silvery-white forewings, bright orange apical portions, and complex oblique streaks in brownish-grey and white. The species is endemic to the West Indies and has a wingspan of approximately 10 mm.