Grapevine-pests
Guides
Heliozelidae
Shield-bearing Moths, Shield Bearer Moths
Heliozelidae are a family of small, primitive monotrysian moths in the order Lepidoptera. Adults are typically metallic, day-flying moths with shiny smooth heads and wingspans of 4–5 mm. Larvae are specialized leaf miners that feed between leaf epidermises, creating distinctive blotch or serpentine mines. A defining family trait is the larval habit of cutting oval shield-like cases from the mined leaf tissue, which are used for pupation; these shields are attached by silk to bark, leaves, twigs, or other substrates. The family has gained attention due to several invasive species that have expanded their ranges, particularly in Europe.