Gelechioidea
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.
Agonoxeninae
palm moths
Agonoxeninae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Elachistidae (grass-miner moths). The group has undergone substantial taxonomic revision, expanding from a monotypic arrangement centered on Agonoxena to encompass approximately 13 genera, with several genera transferred from Cosmopterigidae. Members are commonly referred to as palm moths, reflecting an ecological association with palms. The classification history illustrates ongoing debate about boundaries between Agonoxeninae, Blastodacnidae, and Elachistidae.
Anoncia aciculata
Anoncia aciculata is a species of moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, first described by Edward Meyrick in 1928. It is a small gelechioid moth known from limited records in the southwestern United States. The species belongs to a genus of moths whose larvae are often associated with plant material, though specific biology for this species remains poorly documented.
Asaphocrita
Asaphocrita is a genus of moths in the family Blastobasidae, established by Edward Meyrick in 1931. The genus contains numerous species, though many remain poorly documented. Blastobasidae moths are generally small with relatively plain coloration. Asaphocrita species are found in Southeast Asia based on available distribution records.
Autostichidae
Autostichidae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, comprising approximately 600 described species worldwide. The family is divided into six subfamilies: Autostichinae, Deocloninae, Glyphidocerinae, Holcopogoninae, Oegoconiinae, and Symmocinae. Species-level taxonomy has been extensively studied in Asia, particularly for the genus Meleonoma in China, where over 70 new species have been described in recent years. The family exhibits considerable morphological diversity in genitalia structure, which serves as a primary diagnostic feature for species identification.
Batia
Batia is a genus of small moths in the family Oecophoridae, first described by Stephens in 1834. These moths belong to the superfamily Gelechioidea, a large and diverse group of microlepidoptera. The genus contains at least seven described species, including Batia unitella, Batia lambdella, and Batia lunaris.
Batrachedra busiris
Batrachedra busiris is a small moth species in the family Batrachedridae, described by Hodges in 1966. It is known from Florida, United States, with 56 observations documented on iNaturalist. The species belongs to a family of gelechioid moths characterized by slender bodies and relatively narrow wings.
Blastobasidae
Blastobasid Moths
Blastobasidae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, containing approximately 30 genera and hundreds of species distributed worldwide. Adults are generally slender, reddish-brown moths with wingspans of 12–24 mm, lacking conspicuous markings. Larvae feed on dead organic matter, though some species are pests of stored products or cultivated crops. The family's taxonomy remains unstable, with relationships among genera poorly resolved and various arrangements placing Blastobasidae as a subfamily of Coleophoridae or including Symmocidae within it.
Blastobasis
Blastobasis is the type genus of the moth family Blastobasidae (Gelechioidea), containing approximately half of all described species in that family. The genus is taxonomically problematic: its monophyly is seriously doubted, with many presumed relatives separated into small or monotypic genera that may represent specialized lineages within a broader Blastobasinae assemblage. Some formerly independent genera, including Agnoea, Auximobasis, Euresia, and Zenodochium, are variably included or excluded by different authors. Species occur across multiple continents with diverse larval habits, including acorn borers in oaks and stem borers in grasses.
Calosima
Calosima is a genus of gelechioid moths in the family Blastobasidae, established by Dietz in 1910. The genus belongs to the diverse superfamily Gelechioidea, which contains numerous small moth species often characterized by narrow wings and cryptic coloration. As a blastobasid genus, Calosima species are likely small to minute in size with relatively inconspicuous appearance. The genus has been documented in various regions with 186 iNaturalist observations recorded.
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.
Coleophoridae
case-bearers, casebearing moths, case moths
Coleophoridae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, comprising over 1,000 described species. Adults are slender with fringed wing margins. Larvae are known as case-bearers: they construct portable silken cases, often incorporating plant material or frass, which they carry and rebuild as they grow. The family is most diverse in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly the Palearctic. Approximately 95% of species are placed in the genus Coleophora, though this classification remains problematic due to unresolved phylogenetic relationships.
Cosmopteriginae
Cosmopteriginae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Cosmopterigidae. Members are characterized by narrow wings and minute size. Larvae of many species are internal feeders on plant tissues. The subfamily is most diverse in the Australian and Pacific regions.
Deoclona
Deoclona is a genus of small moths in the family Autostichidae, subfamily Deocloninae. The genus was established by Busck in 1903 and contains four described species distributed in North America. These moths are part of the diverse gelechioid superfamily, though specific biological details remain poorly documented for most species.
Depressaria
Depressaria is a genus of moths in the family Depressariidae (subfamily Depressariinae), previously treated as part of Oecophoridae or as a distinct family. The genus contains approximately 80+ described species, with new species continuing to be discovered. Most species are specialists on Apiaceae (umbellifers), feeding on reproductive structures, though some species utilize Salicaceae (willows). Several species are economically significant agricultural pests or invasive species in North America, including D. depressana (purple carrot-seed moth) and D. radiella (parsnip webworm). The type species, D. heraclei (parsnip moth), has a confused taxonomic history dating to Linnaeus.
Duospina
Duospina is a genus of small moths in the family Batrachedridae, originally described by Hodges in 1966. The genus was formerly classified within the family Coleophoridae but has since been reassigned based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. It contains three described species distributed across North America and Europe.
Elachistidae
Grass-miner moths, Grass Miner Moths
Elachistidae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, commonly known as grass-miner moths. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with modern circumscriptions restricting it to essentially the subfamily Elachistinae. Members are small to very small moths with wingspans usually around 1 cm, characterized by feather-like wings with fine hair covering the fringes and often reduced hindwings. The family contains approximately 805 valid species placed in 10 genera, with Elachista being the largest genus. Larvae are typically leaf miners or stem miners on Poales (grasses and related plants).
Eralea
Eralea is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, established by Hodges in 1962. The genus contains at least two described species: Eralea abludo and Eralea albalineella (formerly also known as E. striata). Cosmopterigidae moths are generally small with narrow wings and often exhibit metallic or contrasting color patterns. The genus is part of the superfamily Gelechioidea, a diverse group of small moths commonly known as twirler moths or micromoths.
Esperia
Esperia is a genus of moths in the family Oecophoridae, first described by Jacob Hübner in 1825. The genus belongs to the subfamily Oecophorinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as concealer moths. The genus is currently recognized as a synonym in some taxonomic treatments. Species in this genus are part of the Gelechioidea superfamily, one of the most species-rich clades within Lepidoptera.
Ethmia epileuca
Ethmia epileuca is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae). It is restricted to the southwestern United States, occurring in southern California and Tucson, Arizona. Adults are active in late winter and early spring, with flight period from February through April. The species exhibits distinctive wing patterning with a straight longitudinal line dividing brown or gray-brown upper and white lower forewing areas.
Eudarcia undescribed-meessiidae-one
An undescribed species in the genus Eudarcia, family Meessiidae. Meessiidae is a small family of gelechioid moths, with most species associated with detritivorous or fungivorous larval habits. The genus Eudarcia contains multiple species in the Palearctic region. This particular taxon designation indicates a documented but not yet formally described species.
Holcocerini
Holcocerini is a tribe of moths within the family Blastobasidae, a group of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The tribe contains multiple genera of blastobasid moths, which are characterized by their relatively plain appearance and often poorly known biology. Members of this tribe are found across various regions globally, reflecting the cosmopolitan distribution of the family. The classification of Blastobasidae and its constituent tribes has undergone revision, with some authorities historically treating these groups as subfamilies within Coleophoridae.
Menestomorpha
Menestomorpha is a genus of small moths in the family Depressariidae, first described by Walsingham in 1907. The genus contains two described species: Menestomorpha kimballi, described from Florida in 1964, and the type species Menestomorpha oblongata, described from Mexico in 1907. Members of this genus are classified within the subfamily Stenomatinae, a group of gelechioid moths often associated with dead or decaying plant material.
Mompha capella
Mompha capella is a small moth species in the family Momphidae, described by August Busck in 1940. The genus Mompha comprises species commonly known as momphid moths, many of which are associated with specific host plants. M. capella is one of numerous described species in this genus, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Nites
Nites is a genus of moths in the family Depressariidae, established by Hodges in 1974. The genus contains five described species distributed in North America, including Nites grotella, Nites betulella, and Nites ostryella. These are small to medium-sized moths typically associated with woody plants as larvae. The genus is part of the diverse superfamily Gelechioidea, which includes many concealed-feeding moth lineages.
Oditinae
Oditinae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Depressariidae, established by Lvovsky in 1996. The subfamily includes genera such as Odites and Amphitrias. Some taxonomic sources alternatively place Oditinae within Peleopodidae, reflecting ongoing classification debate. Members are primarily documented from Asia, with taxonomic studies focused on species-level revisions.
Oecophoridae
Concealer moths
Oecophoridae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, commonly known as concealer moths. The family's circumscription remains unsettled due to unresolved phylogeny of gelechoid moths, with various treatments placing different subfamilies within or outside the family. The group includes species with diverse ecological roles, from nutrient recyclers feeding on dead plant material to significant household pests.
Oecophorinae
concealer moths
Oecophorinae is the nominate subfamily of the concealer moth family Oecophoridae, part of the superfamily Gelechioidea. Its circumscription remains disputed, with historical inclusion of groups now sometimes treated as separate subfamilies (Chimabachinae, Deuterogoniinae, Peleopodinae, Philobotinae) or families. No robust tribal classification has been established for the bulk of genera. The subfamily contains numerous genera with frequent new descriptions, including well-differentiated groups around Oecophora and Peleopoda.
Oecophorini
Oecophorini is a tribe of small to medium-sized moths within the family Oecophoridae. These concealer moths exhibit considerable diversity in form and coloration. The tribe is part of the subfamily Oecophorinae, which itself has disputed taxonomic boundaries. Members are characterized by their folded wing posture at rest and often intricate wing patterns.
Pigritia
Pigritia is a genus of small moths in the family Blastobasidae, first described by Clemens in 1860. The genus is part of the diverse superfamily Gelechioidea, one of the largest groups of Lepidoptera. Species in this genus are found in multiple regions including North America and Hawaii, with new species described from Costa Rica and the Hawaiian islands as recently as 2012-2013. The genus contains numerous species, though many remain poorly documented in public literature.
Pyramidobela
Pyramidobela is a genus of small moths described by Braun in 1923. Its familial placement has been disputed; it was originally described in Ethmiidae, later transferred to Oecophoridae, and some sources place it in Depressariidae. The genus contains seven described species distributed in western North America. The genus name refers to the pyramid-shaped scales found on the wings of some species.
Sceptea
Sceptea is a genus of small moths in the family Autostichidae, subfamily Symmocinae. The genus was described by Walsingham in 1911 and contains two described species: Sceptea aequepulvella (Chambers, 1872) and Sceptea decedens Walsingham, 1911. The name derives from Greek σκεπτέα, meaning 'to be considered'. As a member of Autostichidae, it belongs to a diverse group of gelechioid moths often characterized by narrow wings and relatively inconspicuous coloration.
Scythrididae
flower moths
Scythrididae (flower moths) is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Adults are small to mid-sized and appear teardrop-shaped when at rest. The family contains numerous species, many of which remain undescribed—some genera have dozens of known species but only 4-6 formally described. Taxonomic placement has been debated: Scythrididae has been treated as a subfamily Scythridinae of Xyloryctidae, and Xyloryctidae itself has sometimes been placed within Oecophoridae. The family is distributed across multiple continents with records from Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and North America.
Scythropiodes issikii
Scythropiodes issikii is a small moth species first described by Ryoichi Takahashi in 1930. Originally placed in Depressariidae, it is now classified in Peleopodidae within the subfamily Oditinae. The species is known from East Asia, with records from Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. It is one of the more frequently observed Scythropiodes species, with over 1,700 documented observations.
Semioscopis
Semioscopis is a genus of small moths in the family Depressariidae, comprising approximately 14 valid species distributed across the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. The genus was established by Hübner in 1825 and is currently classified in the subfamily Depressariinae. Species are distinguished primarily by genitalia morphology and grouped into seven species-level clades based on phylogenetic analysis of COI gene sequences. A new species, S. sinicella, was described in 2025 from montane habitat in central China.
Sorhagenia
Sorhagenia is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, established by Spuler in 1910. The genus name honors Ludwig Friedrich Sorhagen, a German entomologist. It comprises approximately 16 described species distributed primarily across the Palearctic region, with some species also recorded from North America. The genus is taxonomically well-established within the superfamily Gelechioidea, though individual species remain poorly known in terms of their biology and ecology.
Symmocinae
Symmocinae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Autostichidae (superfamily Gelechioidea). The group has undergone repeated taxonomic reclassification, having been treated historically as a tribe within Blastobasidae, as a separate family Symmocidae, or united with Holcopogonidae. Modern molecular and morphological evidence supports its current placement within Autostichidae, though some authorities recognize it as a distinct family pending further phylogenetic study. The subfamily is primarily distributed across the Palearctic region and Africa.
Triclonella
Triclonella is a genus of small moths comprising approximately 25 described species. The genus was established by August Busck in 1900. Species within this genus have been described from the Americas, with records spanning from the southern United States through Central and South America. The taxonomic placement of Triclonella has been subject to revision, with sources variously placing it in Cosmopterigidae or Momphidae.
Triclonella determinatella
Orange-banded Triclonella
Triclonella determinatella is a small moth in the family Momphidae (formerly placed in Cosmopterigidae), known from the southeastern and central United States. Adults are active nearly year-round with peak occurrence from spring through autumn. The species is distinguished by its small size and characteristic orange banding pattern. It has been documented from nine states, primarily in the Gulf Coastal Plain and adjacent regions.
Triclonella xuthocelis
Triclonella xuthocelis is a small moth species described by Hodges in 1962. It belongs to the family Momphidae (formerly placed in Cosmopterigidae), a group of small gelechioid moths. The species is restricted to montane regions at the border of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is known from relatively few observations, reflecting either genuine rarity or limited survey effort in its high-elevation habitat.