Gelechiidae
Guides
Symmetrischema capsica
pepper flowerbud moth
Symmetrischema capsica, commonly known as the pepper flowerbud moth, is a small gelechiid moth described by Bradley and Povolný in 1965. The species is native to the Americas, ranging from the southeastern United States through Mexico to the Caribbean and West Indies. It is a specialist herbivore whose larvae develop within the flower buds of plants in the nightshade family.
Symmetrischema lavernella
A gelechiid moth specialized on Physalis host plants, exhibiting two distinct larval feeding strategies determined by flower bud size. The species is notable for its ability to induce parthenocarpic fruit development in the absence of pollination. Recorded from multiple localities across eastern and central North America.
Symmetrischema lectulifera
Symmetrischema lectulifera is a small gelechiid moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1929. It is known from a limited number of records in Texas, with a wingspan of 13–16 mm. The species belongs to a genus whose members are often associated with Solanaceae plants.
Symmetrischema pallidochrella
Symmetrischema pallidochrella is a small gelechiid moth described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1872. The species is native to North America, with confirmed records from Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, and Oklahoma. A single specimen was detected in the United Kingdom in 2019, likely transported via international shipping or plant material.
Symmetrischema striatella
Streaked Twirler
Symmetrischema striatella is a small gelechiid moth described by Mary Murtfeldt in 1900. It is native to North America with a broad distribution across the eastern and southern United States, and has been introduced to New Zealand. The species is associated with Solanum nigrum (black nightshade), on whose berries the larvae feed.
Teleiopsis
Teleiopsis is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Sattler in 1960. The genus contains eleven recognized species with a predominantly Holarctic distribution centered around the Mediterranean region. Larvae of at least one species (Teleiopsis diffinis) have been documented as leaf-miners, though biological data for most species remains limited.
Telphusa
Telphusa is a genus of moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Chambers in 1872. The genus contains approximately 60 described species distributed across multiple continents. Species in this genus are small moths, typical of the Gelechiidae family, with most being poorly studied beyond original descriptions. The genus is taxonomically stable within the subfamily Gelechiinae and tribe Litini.
Telphusa melanoleuca
Telphusa melanoleuca is a small gelechiid moth described by Walsingham in 1911. It is known only from Guerrero, Mexico. The species is characterized by striking wing patterning with contrasting dark and white markings.
Theisoa constrictella
Constricted Twirler
Theisoa constrictella is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as the Constricted Twirler. It was first described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1873. The species is associated with elm trees (Ulmus), with larvae feeding on these host plants. It is found across the eastern and central United States, with records extending into southern Canada.
Thiotricha
Thiotricha is a large, morphologically diverse genus of gelechiid moths in the subfamily Thiotrichinae. The genus is mainly concentrated in the Old World, with particularly high diversity in China where over 100 species have been documented. Species are distinguished by genital morphology and external characters, with Chinese taxa organized into four species groups based on morphology and molecular data. Larvae of studied species construct portable cases and feed on flowers, seeds, or leaves of various host plants.
Thiotrichinae
Thiotrichinae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera). The subfamily comprises approximately 180 described species distributed across five genera: Calliprora, Macrenches, Palumbina, Polyhymno, and Thiotricha. Thiotricha is the largest and most morphologically diverse genus, with the majority of species concentrated in the Old World tropics and subtropics. Recent phylogenetic studies have substantially revised the generic classification, synonymizing several genera with Thiotricha and establishing two new genera (Pulchrala, Tenupalpa) to accommodate distinct clades.
Trypanisma
Trypanisma is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Clemens in 1860. The genus contains a single described species, Trypanisma prudens. Gelechiidae moths are generally small with narrow wings and are commonly known as twirler moths.
Untomia
Untomia is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, subfamily Anacampsinae. The genus was established by Busck in 1906 and contains nine described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Species exhibit variation in wing pattern, with some featuring distinctive longitudinal stripes or maculation. The genus is part of the diverse gelechioid radiation, though individual species remain poorly documented in terms of biology and ecology.
Xenolechia aethiops
Xenolechia aethiops is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, with a wingspan of approximately 18 mm. The species is native to Europe, ranging from Ireland and Denmark to the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and Greece, with additional populations in North Africa and Turkey. It has also been reported from North America, including records from Alberta, Arizona, California, Maine, Saskatchewan, and Texas. Adults are active in late spring, with flight periods recorded in May and June.
Xenolechia ceanothiella
Xenolechia ceanothiella is a gelechiid moth native to California. The larvae are leaf miners that feed exclusively on Ceanothus divaricatus, creating distinctive mines that begin linear and expand into blotches. Pupation occurs in a silk cocoon spun between two leaves. The species is known from limited records and appears to have a restricted distribution within its host plant's range.