Leaf-miners
Guides
Acanthopteroctetidae
archaic sun moths
Acanthopteroctetidae is a small family of primitive moths containing two genera and seven described species. Commonly known as archaic sun moths, they are diurnal and often exhibit iridescent coloration. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with molecular evidence now placing it in the superfamily Neopseustoidea rather than as the sole family in Acanthopteroctetoidea. Biological data remain scarce, with larval stages documented for only one species.
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.
Argopistes
Olive Flea Beetles
Argopistes is a genus of approximately 50 described species of flea beetles in the tribe Alticini. The genus is notable as the only group of flea beetles specialized for feeding on plants in the family Oleaceae. Species occur worldwide, with documented populations in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Japan, Taiwan, and North America. Several species are economically significant as pests of olive trees or as biological control agents for invasive privet.
Brenthia
Peacock Moths
Brenthia is a genus of small moths in the family Choreutidae, commonly known as peacock moths. The genus is notable for its caterpillars' remarkable defense strategy: they construct escape holes in leaves and use silken pillars to drop to safety when threatened. Some species exhibit striking wing patterns that mimic jumping spiders, a form of predator mimicry. Brenthia species are associated with specific host plants, with larvae feeding on various plant families including Boraginaceae and Malvaceae.
Calliopum
Calliopum is a genus of small lauxaniid flies established by Strand in 1928. The genus comprises approximately 27 described species distributed across the Palearctic region. Adults are typically found in meadows and hedgerows, while larvae exhibit varied feeding habits including phytophagy and saprophagy.
Cemiostominae
Cemiostominae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Lyonetiidae, first described by Spuler in 1898. The group belongs to the superfamily Yponomeutoidea, a lineage of microlepidoptera that includes many leaf-mining species. The subfamily contains genera such as Cemiostoma and Phrixe, though precise boundaries and included taxa have undergone revision. Members are characterized by reduced wing venation and distinctive larval habits.
Chionodes
Chionodes is a large, globally distributed genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae. The genus comprises over 150 described species, many of which are grouped into species complexes based on morphological similarities and host associations. Larvae of numerous species are associated with coniferous trees, particularly Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), though host plant relationships vary considerably across the genus. The Nearctic obscurusella species-group includes species feeding on Acer, Quercus, and Salix.
Choreutinae
metalmark moths
Choreutinae is a subfamily of metalmark moths within the family Choreutidae, characterized by small size and often metallic coloration. The group was historically classified within various superfamilies but is now placed in its own superfamily Choreutoidea. Members exhibit distinctive wing patterns and are found across diverse geographic regions. The subfamily contains numerous species with complex taxonomic relationships that remain under study.
Coleophorinae
case-bearer moths, case-bearing moths
Coleophorinae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Coleophoridae, commonly known as case-bearer moths. The larvae construct distinctive portable cases from silk and plant material, which they carry throughout their development. The subfamily contains the majority of species in Coleophoridae, with adults generally characterized by narrow wings and relatively long antennae. Many species are specialists on particular host plants, making them important subjects for ecological and taxonomic study.
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.
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).
Elachistinae
grass-miner moths
Elachistinae is a subfamily of small moths in the family Elachistidae, superfamily Gelechioidea. The subfamily contains approximately 805 valid species placed in 10 genera, with the genus Elachista being the most diverse. Species are predominantly leaf miners, with larvae feeding on monocotyledonous plants, especially sedges (Cyperaceae) and grasses (Poaceae). The subfamily has a worldwide distribution with significant diversity in the Holarctic region. Many species show narrow host plant associations and some exhibit vicariant distribution patterns.
Eriocraniidae
Sparkling Archaic Sun Moths
Eriocraniidae is a family of primitive moths restricted to the Holarctic region, comprising six extant genera. Adults are small (forewing length 4–7 mm), diurnal, and typically active in early spring, often flying in sunshine around host trees. Larvae are leaf miners on woody angiosperms, primarily in the order Fagales, with most species feeding on birch (Betula) and oak (Quercus). The family retains many ancestral morphological features and represents one of the earliest diverging lineages within Lepidoptera.
Eriocranioidea
Eriocranioid moths
Eriocranioidea is a superfamily of primitive moths comprising a single family, Eriocraniidae, with six extant genera. These small, metallic moths are restricted to the Holarctic region and are among the earliest Lepidoptera to emerge in spring. Adults are primarily day-flying and possess a functional proboscis used for drinking water or sap. The larvae are leaf miners, predominantly feeding on trees in the order Fagales.
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.
Limnophyes
Limnophyes is a genus of non-biting midges (Chironomidae) in the subfamily Orthocladiinae. Species occupy diverse aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats including springs, wetlands, and leaf mines. The genus has a Holarctic distribution with some species showing global ranges, and contains approximately 40 described species. Several species exhibit specialized ecological associations, including crenophily (spring-dwelling) and commensal leaf-mining behavior.
Lithocolletinae
leaf-miner moths
Lithocolletinae is a subfamily of small leaf-mining moths within Gracillariidae, containing over 540 species across eleven genera. The subfamily is distributed worldwide with highest diversity in temperate regions, particularly the Palearctic and Nearctic realms. Larvae are predominantly leaf miners, with most species feeding on plants in Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Betulaceae, Rosaceae, and Salicaceae. Many species are monophagous, known from only a single host plant. The genus Phyllonorycter dominates with approximately 400 species.
Lyonetiidae
Lyonetiidae is a family of small moths comprising approximately 200 described species. Adults are characterized by their diminutive size, with wingspans rarely exceeding 1 cm, and distinctive narrow forewings with pointed, often up- or down-turned apices. The family is notable for its larval biology: all known larvae are leaf miners, feeding internally within leaf tissue. The family has been subject to taxonomic revision, with Bucculatricidae and Bedelliidae sometimes treated as subfamilies rather than distinct families.
Momphidae
mompha moths
Momphidae is a cosmopolitan family of microlepidopteran moths comprising approximately 115-120 described species. Adults are small, with wingspans up to 21 mm, and narrow forewings often bearing raised scale tufts. The family exhibits remarkable ecological diversity, with larvae occupying six distinct hostplant tissue types: leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, roots, and shoot tips. Phylogenetic studies have identified six major clades corresponding to distinct feeding modes including leaf mining, gall induction, and stem or seed boring. Many species are host-plant specialists, particularly on Onagraceae.
Nepticulidae
Pygmy Eye-capped Moths, pigmy moths, midget moths
Nepticulidae is a family of extremely small moths distributed worldwide except Antarctica. Adults are characterized by distinctive eyecaps covering the eyes and narrow, lanceolate wings with simplified venation. Wingspans range from 3 mm to 10 mm, making them among the smallest living moths. Larvae are predominantly leaf miners, though some species mine seeds or bark. The family contains over 1,000 described species with significant undescribed diversity, particularly in tropical regions. Two subfamilies are recognized: Pectinivalvinae, endemic to Australia, and Nepticulinae, distributed globally.
Opomyzoidea
Opomyzoidea is a superfamily of Diptera comprising approximately 11 families with diverse ecological specializations. Member families exhibit varied lifestyles including leaf mining (Agromyzidae), stem feeding in grasses (Anthomyzidae, Opomyzidae), gall formation (Fergusonina), fungal feeding (some Anthomyzidae, Asteiidae), sap feeding on trees (some Aulacigastridae, Odiniidae, Periscelididae), association with wood-boring insect galleries (Odiniidae), and inhabitation of water-filled plant cavities called phytotelmata (Aulacigastridae, Neurochaetidae, Periscelididae). The phylogeny of this group remains controversial, with molecular studies indicating it may not be monophyletic.
Ortholepis
Ortholepis is a genus of small moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae, established by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1887. The genus contains approximately 12 described species distributed across the Holarctic region, with records from Europe and North America. Species within this genus are associated with various woody host plants including birch, blueberry, and rhododendron. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with some species transferred from related genera.
Pellaea
cliffbrakes
Pellaea is a genus of ferns in the Cheilanthoideae subfamily of the Pteridaceae, commonly known as cliffbrakes. The genus name derives from Greek 'pellos' meaning 'dark,' referring to the bluish-gray stems characteristic of many species. These ferns are primarily adapted to rocky habitats, including cliff faces, rocky slopes, and bluffs. Molecular phylogenetic studies using chloroplast DNA restriction site variation have clarified relationships within the genus, particularly resolving the P. glabella complex and establishing that P. atropurpurea is sister to this complex rather than the previously hypothesized P. breweri.
Rhamphini
Flea Weevils
Rhamphini is a tribe of weevils (Curculionidae: Curculioninae) commonly known as flea weevils, characterized by their jumping ability. The tribe includes economically significant leaf-mining species that feed on diverse host plants including poplars, elms, willows, and various herbs. Members exhibit diverse biogeographic distributions across the Palearctic, Oriental, and Neotropical regions, with notable diversity in Asia and Europe.
Rhynchitini
leaf-rolling weevils
Rhynchitini is a tribe of small to medium-sized weevils within the family Attelabidae, commonly known as leaf-rolling weevils. These beetles are characterized by their association with leaf manipulation behaviors, particularly the cutting and rolling of leaves to create protective shelters for their eggs and larvae. The tribe contains numerous genera distributed across multiple continents, with most species associated with broadleaf trees and shrubs.
Scythris
flower moths
Scythris is a genus of microlepidopteran moths erected by Jacob Hübner in 1825. It is the type genus of the family Scythrididae (flower moths), though this family has been treated variously as a subfamily of Xyloryctidae or merged into Oecophoridae by different authorities. The genus contains the largest number of species in its family, with new species continuing to be described. Many species remain poorly known, with life histories determined for relatively few.
Swammerdamia
Swammerdamia is a genus of small moths in the family Yponomeutidae, established by Hübner in 1825. The genus contains approximately 13 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Nearctic regions. Species are associated with various host plants, including Rosaceae. The genus is named in honor of the Dutch naturalist Jan Swammerdam.
Telamoptilia
Telamoptilia is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, established by Kumata & Kuroko in 1988. The genus name derives from Greek 'telamon' (belt) and 'ptilia' (small wing), likely referring to wing pattern or structure. It contains six described species distributed across Africa and Asia, with some species known as leaf miners on specific 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.