Micro-moth
Guides
Argyresthia aureoargentella
Argyresthia aureoargentella is a micro-moth in the family Argyresthiidae, described by Brower in 1953. Adults are whitish with metallic markings typical of the genus. The species occurs in North America, with records from Ontario, Quebec, and New Mexico. Adults are active from early June to late July, with one generation per year.
Argyresthia austerella
Argyresthia austerella is a micro-moth species in the family Argyresthiidae, first described by Zeller in 1873. It is native to North America with a documented range spanning from Florida to New Hampshire and westward to Texas and Missouri. The species is characterized by its small size (wingspan 8–9 mm) and distinctive wing pattern featuring dark brown markings on a white ground color. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to have larvae that mine conifer needles or broadleaved plants, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented.
Argyresthia calliphanes
A small moth in the family Argyresthiidae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1913. Adults are active from June to August. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on Alnus species. The species occurs across much of North America, from eastern Canada to the Pacific coast.
Argyresthia oreasella
Cherry Shoot Borer Moth
A small micro-moth in the family Argyresthiidae, commonly known as the Cherry Shoot Borer Moth. Adults are active from late June through mid-August. The species has been recorded across North America from New York to California and from Quebec to Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Argyresthia thuiella
arborvitae leafminer, thuja mining moth, American thuja shoot moth
Argyresthia thuiella is a micro-moth in the family Argyresthiidae, commonly known as the arborvitae leafminer. Native to North America, it has been introduced to Europe multiple times since 1971. The species develops one generation annually, with larvae mining the foliage and twigs of Thuja and Chamaecyparis species. Adults are active from May to July and have a wingspan of approximately 8 mm.
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 calens
Aristotelia calens is a small gelechiid moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1923. It is known from California, with a wingspan of approximately 11 mm. The forewings display a distinctive pattern of brown ground color with multiple white fasciae that are irrorated (sprinkled) with grey, along with characteristic black markings including spots on the costa and fold, and a streak on the fold. The hindwings are grey. It belongs to a genus of "twirler moths" whose larvae are known to specialize on particular host plants.
Aristotelia monilella
Aristotelia monilella is a micro-moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Barnes and Busck in 1920. It is a small species with a wingspan of 12–13 mm, characterized by distinctive white markings on golden-brown forewings. The species has been recorded from Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Florida.
Dialectica cordiella
Dialectica cordiella is a species of micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, a group known for leaf-mining larvae. The species is documented from limited observations, with 33 records on iNaturalist. Like other members of its genus, it likely has larvae that feed internally on plant tissue, creating characteristic mines in leaves. Adult moths are small with narrow wings typical of the family.
Elachista huron
Elachista huron is a species of micro-moth in the family Elachistidae. It was described by Kaila in 1996. The species is known from a single U.S. state, Iowa, and remains poorly documented in scientific literature. As with most members of this large genus, detailed biological information is scarce.
Elachista ischnella
Elachista ischnella is a species of micro-moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Kaila in 1997. It is known from the southwestern United States. As with many Elachista species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Ethmia lassenella
Ethmia lassenella is a small moth species in the family Ethmiidae, found in the western United States. Adults are active in early spring, with a distinctive appearance featuring steel gray forewings marked with bright red-orange and black spots, and white hindwings with a broad black marginal band. The species is one of approximately 50 Ethmia species occurring north of Mexico, most of which are concentrated in the southwestern United States.
Eucalantica
Eucalantica is a genus of micro-moths in the family Yponomeutidae, first described by Busck in 1904. The genus was long considered monotypic, known only from a single Nearctic species, until a 2011 taxonomic review described six new species from Central America and southern North America. Members of this genus are characterized by silvery white coloration with distinctive dark brown costal streaks on the forewings. Yponomeutid moths, including Eucalantica, are considered important for understanding the evolution of plant associations in Lepidoptera.
Eucalantica polita
Eucalantica polita is a micro-moth in the family Yponomeutidae, first described by Walsingham in 1881. It represents one of the few Nearctic species in the genus Eucalantica, which is otherwise predominantly Neotropical in distribution. The species is restricted to Pacific coastal regions of western North America.
Eupithecia appendiculata
Eupithecia appendiculata is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1945. It belongs to the genus Eupithecia, commonly known as 'pug' moths, recognized by their narrow wings and distinctive resting posture. The species has been documented as a nocturnal visitor to apple flowers, contributing to pollination services in agricultural settings.
Eupithecia tenuata
Pug moth
Eupithecia tenuata is a small pug moth in the family Geometridae, first described from western North America in 1880. The species occurs from southern British Columbia through the Rocky Mountains to Arizona and New Mexico. Adults are active in mid-summer and have been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination of fruit crops.
Hedya salicella
White-backed Marble
Hedya salicella is a small tortricid moth commonly known as the White-backed Marble. It is a single-brooded species with adults active from June through September. The species is widely distributed across Europe and has been introduced to North America. Its larvae are specialized feeders on willow and poplar species.
Hodebertia
Hodebertia is a monotypic genus of crambid moths erected by Leraut in 2003. Its sole species, Hodebertia testalis, is a tropical micro-moth with occasional vagrant records in Europe. The genus is notable for its distinctive wing pattern and larval association with milkweed relatives and hibiscus.
Hodebertia testalis
Incolorous Pearl
Hodebertia testalis, known as the Incolorous Pearl, is a small crambid moth found primarily in tropical regions with occasional vagrant records reaching parts of Europe. It is the sole species in its genus, making Hodebertia monotypic. The species was first described by Fabricius in 1794 and has undergone taxonomic reclassification, with some sources placing it in the genus Pyrausta.
Limnaecia phragmitella
Shy Cosmet Moth
Limnaecia phragmitella, commonly known as the Shy Cosmet Moth, is a small micro-moth in the family Cosmopterigidae. Adults have a wingspan of 15–22 mm with ochre-coloured forewings bearing distinctive grey-brown markings and white-edged spots. The species is widespread across Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Larvae are more frequently encountered than adults, mining within the seed heads and stems of bulrushes (Typha species).
Lithariapteryx abroniaeella
Jewel-studded Sand Verbena Sun Moth
Lithariapteryx abroniaeella is a micro-moth species in the family Heliodinidae, commonly known as the Jewel-studded Sand Verbena Sun Moth. It is characterized by its extremely small size and distinctive metallic wing markings. The species has been documented in the Texas Panhandle and is part of the diverse North American micro-lepidoptera fauna.
Lithariapteryx elegans
Elegant jewel-studded sun moth
A micro-moth in the family Heliodinidae with a wingspan of approximately 1 centimeter. The species exhibits distinctive metallic silver markings that appear as if liquid mercury has been applied to the wings. The abdomen is banded with silver. It has been documented from west Texas. The genus Lithariapteryx belongs to the sun moth family Heliodinidae, a group of small moths often noted for their metallic or iridescent wing patterns.
Lithariapteryx jubarella
Orange-banded jewel-studded sun moth
Lithariapteryx jubarella is a micro-moth species in the family Heliodinidae, first described by Comstock in 1940. The species is known by the common name Orange-banded jewel-studded sun moth. Members of this genus are characterized by their minute size and metallic wing markings. The closely related species Lithariapteryx abroniaeella has been documented with a wingspan of approximately 1 centimeter and distinctive silver-banded abdomen with liquid mercury-like wing markings.
Marmara
Marmara is a genus of micro-moths in the family Gracillariidae, subfamily Phyllocnistinae. These moths are characterized by their minute size and distinctive wing patterns. The genus was established by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1863. Species in this genus are known for their extremely small size, with some individuals having wingspans as small as 4 mm.
Marmara fraxinicola
Marmara fraxinicola is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Braun in 1922. The species is known from northeastern North America, with records from Québec, Canada, and the U.S. states of Ohio, Vermont, and New York. It has one generation per year and is a specialist stem-miner of ash trees (Fraxinus species).
Marmara salictella
Marmara salictella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Clemens in 1863. The species is known from eastern and western North America, with records from Québec and Ontario in Canada, and multiple U.S. states including Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Virginia, California, and the Atlantic coastal states. Larvae are associated with willow species (Salix), including Salix lasiolepis and Salix lutea.
Nemophora bellela
Nemophora bellela is a circumpolar micro-moth in the family Adelidae, notable as the only species of its genus in North America and the sole circumpolar member of Nemophora. Adults have a wingspan of 17–20 mm and are active in June and July in northern Europe. Later instar larvae are case-dwelling and feed on detritus on the ground in peat bog and tundra habitats.
Neopalpa donaldtrumpi
Donald Trump Moth
Neopalpa donaldtrumpi is a micro-moth species described in 2017 from specimens collected in the Algodones Dunes of Southern California and Northern Baja California, Mexico. It is the second species in the genus Neopalpa, distinguished by yellowish-white head scales that inspired its eponymous name. The species has a wingspan of less than one centimeter and was discovered through re-examination of museum specimens. Its naming was intended to draw public attention to habitat conservation for undescribed species in urbanized regions.
Neopalpa neonata
Neopalpa neonata is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Povolný in 1998. It is one of only two species in the genus Neopalpa, which is restricted to the southwestern North American desert region. The species has been recorded from California, Arizona, and western Mexico. Its congener, Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, was described in 2017 and shares the same general distribution.
Paraleucoptera
cottonwood leafminer moth
Paraleucoptera is a genus of micro moths in the family Lyonetiidae, established by Heinrich in 1918. Members are extremely small, with wingspans as small as 4 mm. The genus includes leaf-mining species that feed on poplars and related host plants. Heavy larval infestations can cause significant defoliation. The genus is currently treated as a synonym of Leucoptera in some taxonomic databases, though it remains in use.
Paraleucoptera albella
Cottonwood Leafminer, Cottonwood Leaf Miner
Paraleucoptera albella is a micro-moth in the family Lyonetiidae with a wingspan of approximately 4 mm. The species is known as the cottonwood leafminer due to the feeding behavior of its larvae, which create full-depth mines in leaves of Populus deltoides. It occurs throughout western and eastern North America. Heavy larval infestations can cause significant defoliation and branch damage.
Pelochrista nandana
Pelochrista nandana is a species of tortricid moth in the tribe Eucosmini, originally described as Eucosma nandana by Kearfott in 1907. It belongs to a large genus of small moths whose larvae typically feed internally in plant stems, roots, or reproductive structures. The species is rarely documented in scientific literature and appears infrequently in observation databases.
Petrophila bifascialis
two-banded petrophila moth
Petrophila bifascialis is a small crambid moth found across eastern and central North America. Adults are active from late spring through early autumn. The species is notable for its aquatic larval stage, which feeds on algae and diatoms in freshwater habitats. Adults have a wingspan of 11–24 mm and display two distinct dark bands across the forewings.
Phyllonorycter arbutusella
Phyllonorycter arbutusella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Braun in 1908. The species is known from California and British Columbia. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone). Adults have a wingspan of approximately 8 mm.
Phyllonorycter auronitens
Phyllonorycter auronitens is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, with a wingspan of 6.5–8.2 mm. The species is known from eastern Canada and the northeastern and north-central United States. Larvae are specialized feeders on Alnus (alder) species, creating blotch mines within leaves.
Phyllonorycter celtisella
Phyllonorycter celtisella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The larvae create distinctive blotch mines on the upper surface of hackberry (Celtis) leaves. The species occurs in eastern and central North America, where it is closely associated with its host plants.
Phyllonorycter fitchella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 7.5–8 mm. Larvae create mines in leaves of Quercus (oak) species. Adults are active from March to October in at least some portions of the range.
Phyllonorycter incanella
Phyllonorycter incanella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from scattered locations in western and eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. The species is a leaf miner, with larvae feeding on alder species.
Phyllonorycter ledella
Labrador Tea Leaf Miner
Phyllonorycter ledella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Labrador Tea Leaf Miner. It is a small leaf-mining species with a wingspan of 9–10 mm. The species has a disjunct distribution across North America and is listed as endangered in Connecticut.
Phyllonorycter martiella
Phyllonorycter martiella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from eastern North America. Adults are extremely small with a wingspan of approximately 6.8 mm. The species is a leaf-mining specialist, with larvae feeding on birch species.
Phyllonorycter memorabilis
Phyllonorycter memorabilis is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Braun in 1939. It is endemic to California, United States. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on species of Lathyrus, creating distinctive mines within the leaf tissue.
Phyllonorycter nipigon
Balsam Poplar Leaf Blotch Miner
Phyllonorycter nipigon is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is widespread across northern North America, with larvae that create blotch mines in leaves of various Populus species. Adults are active in late summer and fall, with one generation per year. The species is named after Lake Nipigon in Ontario, Canada.
Phyllonorycter occitanica
Phyllonorycter occitanica is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from Texas, United States. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on elm species (Ulmus), specifically Ulmus fulva and Ulmus rubra. Like other members of its genus, it produces characteristic blotch mines on the leaves of its host plants. The species was described by Frey and Boll in 1876.
Phyllonorycter olivaeformis
A micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of approximately 6.5 mm. The species is known from the northeastern and midwestern United States. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on pecan (Carya illinoinensis).
Phyllonorycter salicifoliella
aspen blotch miner
Phyllonorycter salicifoliella is a North American micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the aspen blotch miner. Adults are small with forewings 3–4 mm in length. The species is notable for its larval leaf-mining behavior on willows and poplars, with larvae feeding internally within leaf tissue. It exhibits two generations per year in most of its range, with adult activity peaking in summer and again in late summer through autumn.
Phyllonorycter scudderella
Phyllonorycter scudderella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is widespread across North America, with populations in the east from Ontario to Ohio and in the west from south-eastern Alaska to Oregon. The species is known to have two generations per year in at least part of its range. Larvae are leaf miners on willow species.
Phyllonorycter trinotella
Red Maple Blotchminer
Phyllonorycter trinotella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Red Maple Blotchminer. The species has a wingspan of approximately 5 mm. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on several Acer species, creating blotch mines on the leaves. The species is known from eastern Canada and the northeastern and midwestern United States.
Phyllonorycter viburnella
Phyllonorycter viburnella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf blotch miner moths. The species was described by Braun in 1923. It is known from a limited distribution in northeastern North America, with records from Quebec, Connecticut, and Ohio. As a member of Phyllonorycter, its larvae likely create blotch mines in leaves, though specific host plant associations for this species have not been documented in the provided sources.
Stegea powelli
Stegea powelli is a moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Munroe in 1972. It is known from California in western North America. The species belongs to the subfamily Glaphyriinae, a group of small to medium-sized moths often associated with grasses and other herbaceous plants. Very little is known about its biology or ecology.
Strobisia
Strobisia is a genus of micro-moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Clemens in 1860. The genus contains seven described species distributed primarily in North America. The best-known species, Strobisia iridipennella, is notable for its striking iridescent wing coloration and diminutive size, with a wingspan of approximately 1 centimeter. Members of this genus are part of the diverse gelechiid fauna but remain poorly studied compared to many larger moth groups.
Strobisia iridipennella
Iridescent Strobisia Moth
Strobisia iridipennella is a micro-moth in the family Gelechiidae, notable for its striking iridescent wing coloration. First described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860, this species is among the smallest moths in North America, with a wingspan of approximately 1 centimeter. It inhabits the southeastern and central United States, ranging from New York south to Florida and west to Texas and Illinois, with records extending into Mexico.