Microlepidoptera
Guides
Acalyptris
Acalyptris is a genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, established by Meyrick in 1921. It represents the second largest genus of Nepticulidae in the Americas and contains approximately 100 described species distributed across six continents. The genus is characterized by leaf-mining larvae that create distinctive mines in host plant foliage. Species are organized into multiple species groups based on morphology and host associations, with nine revised species groups recognized in the American fauna.
Acrocercops astericola
Aster Tentiform Blotchminer
Acrocercops astericola is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from eastern North America, where larvae feed on asteraceous host plants. Adults are small moths typical of the microlepidoptera. The common name refers to the distinctive tentiform blotch mines created by larval feeding.
Acrolepiopsis
Acrolepiopsis is a genus of small moths in the family Glyphipterigidae, established by Gaedike in 1970. The genus includes approximately six described species in North America and additional species in Europe and Asia. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, notably Acrolepiopsis assectella (leek moth) and A. sapporensis (Asiatic onion leafminer), which specialize on Allium species including onion, garlic, and leek. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with DNA barcoding data supporting species-level distinctions.
Acroplectis haemanthes
Acroplectis haemanthes is a small tortricid moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1927. It occurs in the southwestern United States across six states. Adults are active primarily from spring through early summer, with some records in autumn. The species remains poorly known, with limited biological data beyond basic collection records.
Adela astrella
Adela astrella is a species of fairy moth in the family Adelidae, described by Walsingham in 1915. As with other members of the genus Adela, this species is characterized by the extremely long antennae of males. The family Adelidae comprises small, delicate moths commonly known as fairy moths or long-horn moths. Available information on this specific species is limited, with 28 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Adela septentrionella
Ocean Spray Fairy Moth, Fairy Longhorn Moth
Adela septentrionella is a small fairy longhorn moth in the family Adelidae, described by Walsingham in 1880. The species is characterized by the exceptionally long antennae typical of male adelids, with forewings measuring 4.5–5.7 mm. Adults are active from mid-April to mid-July across their western North American range. The larvae are specialized feeders on the buds of Holodiscus discolor (ocean spray), a woody shrub in the rose family.
Aethes argentilimitana
Silver-bordered Aethes
Aethes argentilimitana, commonly known as the silver-bordered aethes, is a small tortricid moth native to North America. The species inhabits dry, open meadows and fields across a broad eastern and central range extending from Ontario south to Mississippi. Adults are active from spring through late summer, with multiple generations likely occurring annually. The species is relatively well-documented, with over 1,400 observations recorded.
Aethes louisiana
Aethes louisiana is a small tortricid moth described from the United States in 1907. The species is distinguished by its light straw-colored forewings with golden yellow overlay and two dark golden brown basal fasciae. It has been recorded from Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, with adults active during late spring. The species name reflects its association with the state of Louisiana, though current records suggest a broader midwestern distribution.
Agnippe abdita
Agnippe abdita is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of 8.5–9 mm, recorded from Utah, Arizona, and California. Adults are active in March. The larvae feed on Cercocarpus ledifolius and Cercocarpus montanus, with larval presence varying by region: March in southern California, June in eastern California and Utah.
Agnippe leuconota
Agnippe leuconota is a small gelechiid moth described by Zeller in 1873. It occurs across a broad geographic range in North America, from the northeastern United States through the Midwest, south to Florida and Texas, and into Mexico. The species is most reliably distinguished from its congener Agnippe prunifoliella by differences in forewing pattern, particularly the absence of distinct white costal markings present in the latter species. Adults are active during late spring and summer.
Agonopterix fusciterminella
Agonopterix fusciterminella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by Clarke in 1941. It is found in western and eastern North America, with records from California to British Columbia and from North Carolina to Tennessee. The species has a wingspan of 22–25 mm and exhibits distinctive reddish-brown and fuscous forewing patterning. Larvae are known to feed on specific host plants in the Asteraceae family.
Agonopterix senicionella
Agonopterix senicionella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by August Busck in 1902. It is restricted to the eastern United States, with records from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae feed exclusively on Packera aurea, a plant formerly classified as Senecio aureus. Adults are recognized by their distinctive wing pattern of dark ochrous gray with brownish suffusion and characteristic black discal dots.
Alucita
many-plumed moths
Alucita is the largest and type genus of many-plumed moths (family Alucitidae), containing approximately 180 species with new species continuing to be described. The genus occurs almost worldwide, though individual species have more restricted ranges. Members are distinguished by their unique wing morphology, with each wing divided into multiple feather-like plumes. The genus was established by Linnaeus in 1758 and has historically been subject to taxonomic revision, with several junior synonyms proposed by subsequent authors.
Anacampsis argyrothamniella
Anacampsis argyrothamniella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1900. It is known from a restricted range in the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida and Georgia. The species is associated with the host plant Argyrothamnia blodgettii, on which its larvae feed by tying leaves together.
Anacampsis comparanda
Anacampsis comparanda is a small gelechiid moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1929. It is known from limited records in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and Texas. The species has a wingspan of 13–14 mm. Its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.
Anacampsis fragariella
Anacampsis fragariella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1904. It occurs in North America with records from the northeastern United States, Great Lakes region, and Pacific Northwest. The species is associated with strawberry plants (Fragaria), with larvae feeding on these hosts. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 16 mm and exhibit characteristic forewing patterning with a darker apical fascia.
Anacampsis n-sp-two
Anacampsis n-sp-two is a species of gelechiid moth in the genus Anacampsis. As an undescribed species designated by a provisional name, formal taxonomic description and detailed biological information remain unpublished. Members of this genus are small moths with distinctive wing patterns and are associated with various host plants. The species is recognized from specimens collected in specific geographic areas pending formal description.
Anacampsis nonstrigella
Anacampsis nonstrigella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1906. It is known from a limited range in the eastern United States. The species is distinguished by its contrasting wing coloration with dark olive basal forewings and blackish brown apical areas.
Anacampsis undescribed-nr-levipedella
Anacampsis undescribed-nr-levipedella is an undescribed species within the gelechiid moth genus Anacampsis, closely related to A. levipedella. It belongs to a taxonomically complex group where species boundaries remain under study. The designation "undescribed-nr-levipedella" indicates it has been recognized as distinct but not yet formally described in the scientific literature. It is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, a large and diverse group of microlepidoptera.
Ancylis maritima
Ancylis maritima is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar in 1904. It belongs to the genus Ancylis, a group of small moths commonly known as leafroller moths or tortrix moths. The specific epithet 'maritima' suggests a possible association with coastal or maritime habitats, though this has not been confirmed by available sources. Very little is known about the biology, ecology, or distribution of this species beyond its taxonomic classification.
Ancylis muricana
Red-headed Ancylis Moth
Ancylis muricana is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, commonly known as the Red-headed Ancylis Moth. The species was described by Walsingham in 1879 from specimens collected in North America. It is a member of the diverse genus Ancylis, which contains many species of leaf-roller moths. The common name refers to the distinctive reddish coloration of the head in adult specimens.
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.
Antaeotricha agrioschista
Antaeotricha agrioschista is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1927. It is known from Texas, North America, and is characterized by its distinctive wing patterning of light grey forewings overlaid with white and sprinkled with dark fuscous markings. The species has a wingspan of 20–21 mm. Limited information exists regarding its biology, host associations, and ecological relationships.
Aproaerema adversa
Aproaerema adversa is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1930. It belongs to a genus of gelechiid moths distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species has been recorded from scattered localities across the eastern and western United States. Like other members of its family, it likely has a concealed lifestyle, with larvae that may feed internally on plant tissues.
Aproaerema nigrella
Aproaerema nigrella is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as twirler moths. The species was described by Chambers in 1875. Like other members of this large family, it is a microlepidopteran—typically measuring less than ten millimeters in length. The genus Aproaerema belongs to the subfamily Anacampsinae, which contains numerous small species with poorly documented biology.
Araeolepia
Araeolepia is a genus of small moths in the family Glyphipterigidae, subfamily Acrolepiinae. The genus was established by Walsingham in 1881. It belongs to the superfamily Yponomeutoidea, a group of microlepidoptera. Very few observations of this genus exist in public databases, suggesting it is either rare, poorly sampled, or restricted to specific habitats.
Arcutelphusa talladega
Arcutelphusa talladega is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is the sole member of its genus. The species was described in 2008 and is known from a limited distribution in the southeastern United States.
Argyresthia
Argents
Argyresthia is a genus of microlepidopteran moths comprising over 200 species, with more than 100 species recognized in the Palearctic region. Adults are exceptionally small, measuring 3.2–6.8 mm from head to wingtip. Most species display white wings with broad, transverse metallic stripes. Larvae are leaf or needle miners, feeding between tissue layers of conifers or broadleaved plants. The genus is the namesake of the family Argyresthiidae, having been elevated from subfamily status within Yponomeutidae.
Argyresthia cupressella
cypress tip moth
Argyresthia cupressella, commonly known as the cypress tip moth, is a small microlepidopteran moth in the family Argyresthiidae. Native to the western coast of North America, it has been introduced to Europe where established populations now occur. The species is recognized as a pest of ornamental and forest conifers due to larval feeding damage.
Argyresthia franciscella
Argyresthia franciscella is a small moth in the family Argyresthiidae, described by Busck in 1915. It is native to western North America, with records from California. The species has a single generation annually. Larvae are specialized miners of cypress foliage, feeding within the growing tips of Cupressus species.
Argyresthia goedartella
bronze alder moth
Argyresthia goedartella, commonly known as the bronze alder moth, is a small moth species in the family Argyresthiidae. It is widely distributed across Europe and North America. The species is recognized by its distinctive coppery-golden Y-shaped wing marking and its association with birch and alder host plants. Adults are active from spring through autumn and have been observed feeding on nectar.
Argyresthia pruniella
cherry fruit moth, cherry blossom tineid
Argyresthia pruniella is a small moth in the family Argyresthiidae, commonly known as the cherry fruit moth or cherry blossom tineid. It is recognized by its distinctive reddish-brown forewings with white markings and narrow, fringed hindwings. The species is considered an agricultural pest due to larval feeding in the shoots of fruit trees. It occurs across Europe, Asia Minor, and North America.
Argyresthia pygmaeella
Sallow Argent
A small microlepidopteran moth in the family Argyresthiidae, first described from Vienna, Austria in 1775. Adults are active from May to August with a single annual generation. The species is associated with willows, where larvae mine leaf-buds and shoots. It has a broad distribution across Europe, northern Asia, and North America.
Aristaea
Aristaea is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, established by Edward Meyrick in 1907. The genus comprises twelve described species distributed across Australia, Asia, and parts of Europe. Members are leaf-mining moths, with larvae that feed internally on plant tissues. The genus includes the type species Aristaea thalassias, described by Meyrick in 1880.
Aristotelia
twirler moths
Aristotelia is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as twirler moths. These microlepidoptera are characterized by their tiny size yet bold, exotic-looking markings. The genus contains approximately 35 named species in North America north of Mexico, with many additional species awaiting formal description. Aristotelia moths are attracted to blacklights and are frequently encountered during nocturnal insect surveys. Each species specializes on a particular host plant, though collectively the genus utilizes many plant families.
Aristotelia adceanotha
Aristotelia adceanotha is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Keifer in 1935. It is native to western North America, with confirmed records from California and Washington. The species has a wingspan of 11–12 mm and exhibits distinctive wing patterning with orange-roseate, dark fuscous brown, and white markings. Larvae are specialized feeders on Ceanothus cuneatus, a native shrub in the buckthorn family.
Aristotelia amelanchierella
Aristotelia amelanchierella is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1925. The species is found in scattered locations across North America, with records from Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. The larva is known to feed on Amelanchier alnifolia (serviceberry), making this a host-specific twirler moth.
Aristotelia arenella
Aristotelia arenella is a recently described species of twirler moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Lee in 2022. The genus Aristotelia comprises small moths commonly known as twirler moths due to their characteristic resting posture with wings wrapped tightly around the body. Members of this genus are typically microlepidoptera, often under 15mm in length, with bold and distinctive color patterns that aid in identification. The specific epithet 'arenella' suggests an association with sandy habitats, though this remains to be confirmed through ecological study.
Aristotelia bifasciella
Aristotelia bifasciella is a small moth in the twirler moth family Gelechiidae, described by August Busck in 1903. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, and Utah. The species is distinguished by its distinctive wing pattern featuring two dark brown transverse bands on a pale yellowish-white background. Like other members of the genus Aristotelia, it is attracted to ultraviolet light sources at night.
Aristotelia devexella
Aristotelia devexella is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as twirler moths. The species was described by Annette Frances Braun in 1925. It is known from a limited number of locations in western North America, specifically Alberta, Arizona, and Oklahoma. As with many microlepidoptera in this genus, detailed natural history information remains sparse.
Aristotelia elegantella
Elegant Aristotelia
Aristotelia elegantella is a tiny moth in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as the Elegant Aristotelia. It was described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1874 and is found across much of North America, from southern Canada through the western and central United States. The species is notable for its striking wing pattern featuring bands of white, ochreous-yellow, and iridescent brown. It has been recorded at blacklight setups and appears to be attracted to artificial light sources.
Aristotelia eumeris
Aristotelia eumeris is a small moth in the twirler moth family Gelechiidae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1923. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically California and Arizona. The species has a wingspan of approximately 12 mm and exhibits distinctive wing patterning with white fasciae, blackish markings, and rosy dorsal tinging. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with specific host plants, though these remain undocumented for this particular species.
Aristotelia fungivorella
Aristotelia fungivorella is a small gelechiid moth described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1864. The species has a broad distribution across North America, ranging from Ontario west to British Columbia and south to California, Mississippi, and Alabama. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 11 mm. The larvae develop within galls on willow species Salix cordata and Salix exigua, suggesting a specialized relationship with these host plants.
Aristotelia hexacopa
Aristotelia hexacopa is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1929. It belongs to the genus Aristotelia, commonly known as twirler moths. The species is documented from the southwestern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is small and boldly patterned.
Aristotelia intermediella-group
The Aristotelia intermediella-group comprises tiny twirler moths in the family Gelechiidae. These microlepidoptera are characterized by bold, exotic-looking markings despite their small size. The group contains multiple closely related species that are difficult to distinguish without detailed examination. Members are attracted to ultraviolet light sources at night and have been documented in Colorado and New Mexico.
Aristotelia isopelta
Aristotelia isopelta is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Edward Meyrick in 1929. It belongs to a genus of small 'twirler moths' characterized by bold patterning despite their diminutive size. The species has been recorded across a broad North American range spanning from British Columbia and Quebec to Texas and Arizona. Adults have a wingspan of 9–12 mm. Like other Aristotelia species, the larvae likely specialize on a particular host plant, though specific details remain undocumented.
Aristotelia lespedezae
Aristotelia lespedezae is a small moth in the twirler moth family Gelechiidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1930. It occurs in the eastern United States, with records from Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. Adults have been documented from late May through October in Kentucky. The species name references its presumed larval association with Lespedeza plants.
Aristotelia planitia
Aristotelia planitia is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1925. It is known from a limited number of records in Utah, North America. The species belongs to a genus of "twirler moths" whose larvae typically specialize on particular host plants.
Aristotelia primipilana
Aristotelia primipilana is a small gelechiid moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1923. It belongs to the twirler moth family Gelechiidae, a diverse group of microlepidoptera whose larvae typically feed on specific host plants. The species has been documented in eastern North America with records from Florida and Ontario. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the bold patterning characteristic of Aristotelia species.
Aristotelia roseosuffusella
Pink-washed Aristotelia Moth, Clover Aristotelia Moth, Garden Webworm
Aristotelia roseosuffusella is a small gelechiid moth first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. The species is commonly known as the pink-washed aristotelia, clover aristotelia moth, or garden webworm. It is native to eastern North America, with a wingspan of approximately 11 mm. The forewings display a distinctive pattern of dark brown with roseate suffusion along the inner margin, combined with white spots and bands.
Aristotelia sp.
twirler moth
Aristotelia is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as twirler moths. Multiple undescribed species are known to occur in North America, particularly in the southwestern United States. These moths are characterized by bold, distinctive markings despite their small size. The genus contains approximately 35 named species north of Mexico, with many more awaiting formal scientific description.
Aristotelia undescribed-ex-quercus
twirler moth
Aristotelia undescribed-ex-quercus is a small, undescribed species of twirler moth in the family Gelechiidae. The informal epithet "ex-quercus" indicates an association with oak (Quercus) as a larval host plant. Like other Aristotelia species, it is tiny but boldly marked. The genus contains approximately 35 named species in North America north of Mexico, with many additional species awaiting formal description. Each Aristotelia species appears to specialize on a particular host plant, though collectively the genus utilizes many plant families.
Aroga
Twirler moths, Stripe-backed moths
Aroga is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as twirler moths. Species in this genus are typically nocturnal and attracted to light. The genus includes Arogalea cristifasciella, known as the Stripe-backed Moth, which has been documented in suburban settings in Kansas. Aroga species are part of the diverse microlepidoptera fauna that are often overlooked due to their small size.
Aroga camptogramma
Aroga camptogramma is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is known from limited records in the southwestern United States. The species has a wingspan of 8–9 mm. Published information on its biology and ecology remains sparse.
Aroga compositella
Six-spotted Aroga Moth, six-spotted aroga
Aroga compositella is a small gelechiid moth with distinctive white markings on dark forewings. The species occurs across much of the eastern and central United States. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Arogalea cristifasciella
Stripe-backed Moth, White Stripe-backed Moth
Arogalea cristifasciella is a small gelechiid moth known as the stripe-backed moth or white stripe-backed moth. It is widely distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from over 25 U.S. states and Canadian provinces. The species is characterized by its small size, with forewings approximately 5 mm in length, and adults are active from January through August. It is frequently encountered at light traps and is one of many small moths that contribute to the high diversity of North American Lepidoptera.
Arotrura divaricata
Arotrura divaricata is a species of moth in the family Scythrididae, described by Braun in 1923. The genus Arotrura is part of a small family of microlepidoptera commonly known as flower moths. Very little specific information is available about this particular species.
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.
Aspilanta ampelopsifoliella
A minute leaf-mining moth in the family Heliozelidae, native to eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of 5–5.3 mm and are externally indistinguishable from the congeneric A. oinophylla. The larvae create distinctive serpentine-blotch mines in leaves of Virginia creeper and false Virginia creeper, cutting out a shield-shaped pupal case before emerging.
Aspilanta argentifera
Aspilanta argentifera is a minute moth in the family Heliozelidae, originally described by Annette Frances Braun in 1927 and transferred from Antispila to the new genus Aspilanta in 2020 based on molecular phylogenetics. The species is restricted to eastern North America and is a leaf miner whose larvae feed exclusively on plants in the family Myricaceae. Adults have distinctive silvery-white markings on dark brown forewings.
Aspilanta voraginella
Aspilanta voraginella is a small moth in the family Heliozelidae, originally described by Annette Frances Braun in 1927 and transferred from Antispila to the new genus Aspilanta based on reduced wing venation and phylogenetic evidence. Adults have a wingspan of 4.7–5.4 mm. The species is found in the southwestern United States, where its larvae are gregarious leaf miners on Vitis arizonica.
Astrotischeria solidagonifoliella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Tischeriidae, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1859. The larvae create distinctive mines in leaves of goldenrod (Solidago) species. The species occurs across eastern North America.
Athrips
Athrips is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae containing approximately 60 described species distributed across the Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions. Species are organized into species-groups based on morphological and presumably phylogenetic relationships, with the largest diversity centered in arid and semi-arid regions of Central Asia. The genus was revised taxonomically in 2005 for the Palaearctic region, with subsequent revisions for China (2009) and Africa (2010). One species, A. mouffetella, has been genome-sequenced as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.
Athrips mouffetella
Ten-spotted Honeysuckle Moth, Dotted Grey Groundling
Athrips mouffetella is a small gelechiid moth known by two common names reflecting its appearance and host association. Adults fly from June to early September and are readily attracted to light. The species has a broad Palearctic distribution and has been introduced to North America. Its larvae feed exclusively on honeysuckle and snowberry, spinning silken webs on terminal leaves.
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.
Barbara
Barbara is a genus of moths in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae, tribe Eucosmini. The genus was established by Heinrich in 1923. These are small moths, typically with wingspans under 20 mm, belonging to a large family of tortrix or leafroller moths. Members of this genus are found in North America, with records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. The genus is part of a diverse group of microlepidoptera whose larvae often feed internally in plant tissues.
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.
Battaristis
Battaristis is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Edward Meyrick in 1914. The genus contains approximately 27 described species distributed primarily in North America. Species within this genus are characterized by distinctive wing patterns and are placed in the subfamily Anacampsinae. Many species were originally described from the southwestern United States, with some ranging into Central America.
Battaristis
Battaristis is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, a large and diverse group of microlepidoptera commonly known as twirler moths. The genus contains multiple species, including at least one undescribed species that has been documented but not formally named in scientific literature. Gelechiidae moths are characterized by their relatively small size and often subtle coloration. Species within Battaristis are poorly documented in public sources, with limited information available regarding their biology, distribution, and distinguishing characteristics.
Battaristis cyclella
Battaristis cyclella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1903. It is known from the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and Utah. The species is characterized by distinctive wing patterning with contrasting dark olive-brown markings on a pale yellowish forewing background.
Battaristis vittella
stripe-backed moth, Orange Stripe-backed Moth
A small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of 8–10 mm, recorded from the eastern United States and southern Canada. First described by Busck in 1916 under the basionym Duvita vittella. The species is relatively well-documented with over 1,600 iNaturalist observations.
Bedellia
morning-glory leaf miner
Bedellia is the sole genus of the family Bedelliidae, a group of small, narrow-winged moths. Most authorities recognize Bedelliidae as a distinct family, though some classifications treat it as the subfamily Bedelliinae within Lyonetiidae. The genus contains several species, with Bedellia somnulentella (the sweet potato leafminer) being the most economically significant. This species is an invasive pest of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and related Convolvulaceae, with larvae feeding as leafminers in the leaf mesophyll.
Bedellia somnulentella
sweet potato leaf miner, morning-glory leafminer moth
Bedellia somnulentella is a microlepidopteran leaf-mining moth in the family Bedelliidae, native to Asia and now nearly cosmopolitan in distribution. It is a significant agricultural pest of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and related Convolvulaceae, with larvae feeding on leaf mesophyll and reducing photosynthetic capacity. The species has expanded its range through association with cultivated crops and maintains populations on wild Ipomoea species during off-season periods. It has been documented across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.
Bedelliidae
Bedelliidae is a small family of microlepidoptera containing the single genus Bedellia. These narrow-winged moths were previously classified within Lyonetiidae. The family is best known for the sweet potato leafminer Bedellia somnulentella, an invasive agricultural pest that feeds on Convolvulaceae.
Bohemannia
Bohemannia is a genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as microlepidoptera. The genus contains nine described species distributed primarily across Europe and East Asia. These moths are among the smallest lepidopterans, with most species described in the 19th and 20th centuries. Larvae of Nepticulidae are leaf miners, though specific host associations for most Bohemannia species remain poorly documented.
Bohemannia pulverosella
Dusty Apple Pigmy
Bohemannia pulverosella is a species of minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the Dusty Apple Pigmy. It is distributed across much of Europe, from Fennoscandia south to the Iberian Peninsula and east to central Russia and Ukraine. The species is characterized by its small size, yellow head, and ochreous wings speckled with black. Identification to species level requires microscopic examination of the genitalia.
Bucculatrix
ribbed cocoon-maker moths
Bucculatrix is a genus of small moths in the family Bucculatricidae, commonly known as ribbed cocoon-maker moths. Larvae of many species are leaf miners on specific host plants, with some species exhibiting hypermetamorphosis—shifting from leaf mining in early instars to leaf skeletonization in later instars. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with species described from all major continents.
Bucculatrix adelpha
Bucculatrix adelpha is a small moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. The species is known from limited records in eastern North America. Adults are active in early summer, and larvae feed on Aster species.
Bucculatrix agnella
Bucculatrix agnella is a species of minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. The species is known from scattered records across eastern and central North America, with a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. Like other members of its genus, it is commonly referred to as a 'ribbed cocoon-maker moth' due to the distinctive ribbed structure of its larval cocoon.
Bucculatrix albertiella
Oak Ribbed Casemaker, Oak-ribbed Skeletonizer
A minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by August Busck in 1909. The species is restricted to the west coast of North America and is associated with oak hosts. Larvae are leaf miners that produce distinctive ribbed cocoons.
Bucculatrix anaticula
Bucculatrix anaticula is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. The species is known from only a handful of records in eastern North America, specifically from Ontario, Canada and Kentucky, USA. Like other members of the genus, it is commonly referred to as a "ribbed cocoon-maker moth" due to the distinctive ribbed structure of its larval cocoon. The genus Bucculatrix contains approximately 300 described species, most of which are poorly known and difficult to identify without examination of genitalia.
Bucculatrix ceanothiella
Bucculatrix ceanothiella is a minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1918. The species is known only from California, with a wingspan of approximately 6.5 mm. Adults are active during multiple periods throughout the year, and larvae are specialized leaf miners on Ceanothus species.
Bucculatrix enceliae
Bucculatrix enceliae is a minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from California and Arizona. Adults are active in spring, and the larvae are specialized leaf miners of Encelia farinosa, a desert shrub in the sunflower family.
Bucculatrix inusitata
Cedar Bucculatrix
Bucculatrix inusitata is a minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. It is one of the 'ribbed cocoon-maker' moths, named for the distinctive cocoon structure constructed by larvae. The species is known from a limited geographic range in northeastern North America, with records from Quebec to New Jersey. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 9.5–10 mm.
Bucculatrix packardella
Bucculatrix packardella is a minute moth species in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1873. It is one of approximately 100 described species in the genus Bucculatrix, commonly known as ribbed cocoon-maker moths. The species is documented from the northeastern and north-central United States and adjacent Canada.
Bucculatrix pomifoliella
Apple Skeletonizer Moth
Bucculatrix pomifoliella is a minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. It is known from eastern and central North America, with records spanning from the northeastern United States through the Midwest and into western Canada. The species is recognized for its leaf-mining larvae that feed on Rosaceae host plants, including apple (Malus) and various Prunus species.
Bucculatrix quadrigemina
A small moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1918. Known from California, where larvae mine leaves of Althaea rosea (hollyhock). Adults fly from January through June and again in October. The species exhibits typical bucculatricid biology: early instars are leaf miners, later instars feed externally creating holes, and pupation occurs in a white cocoon.
Bucculatrix separabilis
Bucculatrix separabilis is a species of moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. It is known only from California, where it has been recorded as a leaf miner on Baccharis pilularis. As a member of the genus Bucculatrix, it is part of a group commonly known as 'ribbed cocoon-maker moths' due to the distinctive ribbed structure of their larval cocoons. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature beyond its original description.
Bucculatrix solidaginiella
Goldenrod Bucculatrix
Bucculatrix solidaginiella is a small moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. It is found in eastern and central North America, with records from Florida to Maine and west to Missouri. The species is associated with goldenrod (Solidago) as a larval host plant. Adults are active from spring through mid-summer.
Bucculatrix sororcula
Bucculatrix sororcula is a micro-moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. It is recorded from Arizona and California in western North America. Members of this genus are commonly known as ribbed cocoon-maker moths due to the distinctive ribbed structure of their larval cocoons. The family Bucculatricidae is a small group of leaf-mining moths within the superfamily Gracillarioidea.
Bucculatrix taeniola
Bucculatrix taeniola is a small moth species in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. It is known from California, North America. The larvae feed on white sage, which may refer to Salvia apiana or Eurotia lanata. As a member of the genus Bucculatrix, it is commonly referred to as a 'ribbed cocoon-maker moth' due to the distinctive ribbed cocoons constructed by larvae of this genus.
Bucculatrix thurberiella
Cotton Leaf Perforator
Bucculatrix thurberiella, commonly known as the cotton leaf perforator, is a minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae. The species was described by August Busck in 1914. Native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, it has been introduced to Hawaii. Adults have a wingspan of 7–9 mm. Larvae are leaf miners that feed internally within host plant foliage.
Bucculatrix transversata
Bucculatrix transversata is a minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1910. It is known only from California, with a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. The species is associated with Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed), on which its larvae feed. Adults are active in July, with larval development occurring in October.
Bucculatrix trifasciella
Three-banded ribbed cocoon-maker moth
Bucculatrix trifasciella is a small moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1866. The larvae are leaf miners on oak (Quercus) species, creating distinctive feeding patterns within leaf tissue. The species is found in eastern North America, with records from the northeastern United States and Ontario, Canada.
Cacotherapia bilinealis
Cacotherapia bilinealis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described from Arizona in 1918. It belongs to the subfamily Galleriinae, which includes many species associated with stored products and plant materials. The species remains poorly known, with only five observations recorded on iNaturalist. Its specific epithet "bilinealis" refers to two lines, likely describing a wing pattern feature.
Callima argenticinctella
Orange-headed Callima Moth, Orange-headed Epicallima Moth
A small concealer moth in the family Oecophoridae, with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. The forewings display distinctive yellowish-orange coloration with silvery black-margined lines and a deep reddish-orange basal area. The species is found in deciduous forests across eastern North America, from Nova Scotia to Texas. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet light and are active from spring through autumn.
Callima nathrax
Callima nathrax is a species of concealer moth in the family Oecophoridae, described by Hodges in 1973. It belongs to the subfamily Oecophorinae, a diverse group of small moths commonly known as concealer moths due to their habit of hiding in concealed locations during daylight hours. The genus Callima contains multiple species of similar small moths, with C. nathrax being one of the less documented members. Very little specific information has been published about this species' biology, distribution, or ecology.
Caloptilia anthobaphes
A leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, found in eastern North America. The larvae feed on Vaccinium species, creating mines in leaves. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet light sources. The species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1921.
Caloptilia bimaculatella
Maple Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia bimaculatella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is known from eastern North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia) and the eastern United States. The species has a wingspan of 9–10 mm. Larvae feed on red maple (Acer rubrum), creating blotch mines in the leaves.
Caloptilia blandella
Walnut Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia blandella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Walnut Caloptilia Moth. It has a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. The species is distributed across eastern North America, with records from Canada (Québec) and several U.S. states including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine, Maryland, Texas, and Kentucky. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) and black walnut (Juglans nigra).
Caloptilia hypericella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of approximately 8 mm. The species is specialized on Hypericum (St. John's wort) host plants, with larvae creating blotch mines in leaves. It occurs in eastern North America from Québec to the Ohio River Valley.
Caloptilia invariabilis
Cherry Leaf-cone Caterpillar Moth
Caloptilia invariabilis is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the cherry leaf-cone caterpillar moth. The species has a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed on several Prunus species, creating distinctive mines that begin as linear tracks and terminate in small underside blotches. The species is known from scattered localities in Canada and the United States.
Caloptilia negundella
Boxelder Leafroller Moth, boxelder leafroller
Caloptilia negundella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the boxelder leafroller moth. The species was first described by V.T. Chambers in 1876. It is attracted to ultraviolet light sources and has been documented at moth lighting events in Colorado.
Caloptilia packardella
Caloptilia packardella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from Quebec, Canada, and several northeastern and midwestern U.S. states. Its larvae feed on maple species (Acer), creating blotch mines in leaves.
Caloptilia stigmatella
Willow Leafcone Caterpillar Moth
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 12–14 mm. Adults display distinctive red-brown forewings with a triangular white median costal blotch marked with blackish dots, and grey hindwings. The species has two adult flight periods annually and larvae feed on leaves of willows, poplars, and bog myrtle. It occurs across the Holarctic region, excluding the Balkan Peninsula.
Caloptilia strictella
Caloptilia strictella is a species of microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is known from scattered records across northern and eastern North America, including the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Québec, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Northwest Territories, as well as Maine in the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a leaf-mining species, though specific host plant associations remain undocumented.
Caloptilia suberinella
Caloptilia suberinella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Tengström in 1848. The species has a Palearctic distribution across northern and central Europe, extending eastward through Russia to China, with a recent confirmed record from British Columbia in North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely has leaf-mining larvae, though specific host plant associations for this species remain undocumented. Adults are nocturnal and have been observed at ultraviolet light sources.
Caloptilia superbifrontella
Witch-hazel Caloptilia
Caloptilia superbifrontella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Witch-hazel Caloptilia. The species is restricted to eastern North America, with records from Canada (Québec and Nova Scotia) and the eastern and central United States. Larvae are leaf miners that feed exclusively on Hamamelis species, including witch-hazel and related shrubs.
Caloptilia undescribed-nr-umbratella
An undescribed species in the genus Caloptilia, closely related to C. umbratella. Like other Caloptilia species, it is a leaf blotch miner moth whose larvae create distinctive feeding patterns on host plant leaves. The species remains taxonomically unresolved pending formal description.
Caloptilia undescribed-rhus
An undescribed species in the genus Caloptilia, recognized as a leaf blotch miner moth associated with Rhus (sumac) host plants. As a member of the Gracillariidae family, it exhibits the characteristic larval behavior of creating blotch mines within leaf tissue. The species remains formally undescribed in scientific literature, known primarily from observations and informal documentation.
Caloptilia violacella
Tick-Trefoil Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia violacella is a small gracillariid moth with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm. The species is distributed across the eastern and central United States, with records from Illinois, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, New York, and Texas. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on leguminous host plants including pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), tick-trefoils (Desmodium species), and Meibomia dillenii. The common name "Tick-Trefoil Caloptilia Moth" reflects its association with Desmodium host plants.
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.
Cameraria aceriella
maple leafblotch miner
Cameraria aceriella, the maple leafblotch miner, is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is a leaf-mining species whose larvae create distinctive blotches on maple leaves. The species was first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1859 and is primarily found in northeastern North America.
Cameraria bethunella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, native to eastern North America. Larvae create mines in leaves of chestnut and oak species. Adults are tiny with wingspans under 8 mm. The species was originally described by Chambers in 1871.
Cameraria caryaefoliella
Pecan Leafminer Moth
Cameraria caryaefoliella is a microlepidopteran leafminer moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from eastern North America, with records from Ontario and Quebec in Canada and multiple states across the eastern and central United States. Larvae feed internally within leaf tissue, creating characteristic mines. Adults are active across multiple generations annually.
Cameraria conglomeratella
Conglomerate Oak Leafminer Moth
A small moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 7.5–9 mm. The larvae are leaf miners on Quercus species. Recorded from ten U.S. states.
Cameraria fasciella
Cameraria fasciella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, known only from Kentucky and Ohio in the United States. Adults have a wingspan of 6–7 mm. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on Quercus species, specifically documented on Quercus tinctoria and Quercus velutina, creating irregular yellowish blotch mines on the upper surface of leaves.
Cameraria fletcherella
Cameraria fletcherella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults have a wingspan of 8.5–9 mm. The species is known from limited localities in northeastern North America. Larvae are specialized feeders on oak leaves, creating internal mines in foliage.
Cameraria guttifinitella
Poison Ivy Leaf-miner Moth
A small North American leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, with a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. Larvae are specialized feeders on poison ivy and poison oak (Toxicodendron species), creating characteristic mines within leaves. Females exhibit low leaf selectivity prior to oviposition, accepting 78% of available leaves but actually ovipositing on only 2%. The species maintains low population densities compared to congener Cameraria ohridella, attributed to more effective top-down control by parasitoids.
Cameraria hamameliella
Witchhazel Leafminer
Cameraria hamameliella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, first described by August Busck in 1903. The species is narrowly associated with witchhazel (Hamamelis) as its larval host, with larvae creating distinctive mines within leaves. It occurs throughout eastern North America, where it is the primary leafminer documented on native Hamamelis virginiana.
Cameraria mediodorsella
Cameraria mediodorsella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is endemic to California, where larvae feed on several oak (Quercus) species. The species was described by Braun in 1908.
Cameraria saccharella
Sugar Maple Blotchminer
Cameraria saccharella is a microlepidopteran in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Sugar Maple Blotchminer. The species has a wingspan of 5–7 mm and is restricted to eastern North America. Its larvae are specialized leaf miners that feed exclusively on Acer species, particularly sugar maple and related maples.
Caudellia nigrella
snout moth
Caudellia nigrella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1890. It is one of approximately 1,500 species in the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of small moths often associated with dried plant materials. The species occurs in western North America, with records from the southwestern United States and extending northward into Canada.
Cedestis
Cedestis is a genus of small moths in the family Yponomeutidae, first described by Zeller in 1839. The genus currently contains seven described species distributed across Europe and Asia, including recently described taxa from Spain and China. Species within this genus are distinguished primarily by genital morphology and DNA barcoding data rather than external appearance. The immature stages and host associations remain unknown for most species.
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.
Chilocampyla dyariella
Chilocampyla dyariella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, endemic to Florida, United States. The species has a wingspan of 7–8.5 mm. Its larvae are specialized miners on Eugenia species (Myrtaceae), creating distinctive bladder-like blotch mines on leaves. The species was described by August Busck in 1900.
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.
Chionodes canor
Chionodes canor is a moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Hodges in 1999. The species is known only from Arizona in the southwestern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is a small gelechiid moth, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented.
Chionodes chrysopyla
Chionodes chrysopyla is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of 11–13 mm, found in western North America. The species is distinguished by its patterned forewings featuring blackish markings on a whitish-ochreous ground color. Larvae are specialized feeders on several oak species (Quercus), particularly in California and adjacent regions.
Chionodes landryi
Chionodes landryi is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Hodges in 1999. It is known from a limited number of records in western North America, specifically from Alberta, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The species belongs to a large genus of gelechiid moths, many of which are poorly known biologically.
Chionodes meddix
Chionodes meddix is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1999. The species is known from arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States. As with many Chionodes species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Chionodes naevus
Chionodes naevus is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Hodges in 1999. The species is known from a limited number of records in the southwestern United States. Very little biological information has been published for this species.
Chionodes phalacra
Chionodes phalacra is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. It is characterized by dark fuscous forewings marked with distinctive pale cream-colored spots and streaks. The species has been recorded from Texas, Arizona, Mexico, and Cuba.
Chionodes repertor
Chionodes repertor is a species of small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Hodges in 1999. It is known only from Arizona in the southwestern United States. As a member of the large genus Chionodes, it belongs to a group of gelechiid moths whose larvae are often associated with plant material, though specific biological details for this species remain unreported.
Clepsis fucana
Clepsis fucana is a species of leafroller moth in the family Tortricidae, distributed along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to California. The species is characterized by forewings measuring 6.4–10.6 mm in length. As a member of the genus Clepsis, it shares the typical tortricid resting posture with wings held roof-like over the body.
Coleophora monardae
casebearer moth
Coleophora monardae is a small moth species in the family Coleophoridae, commonly known as a casebearer moth. It was described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1945. The species is known only from Canada, with records from Ontario. Like other Coleophora species, larvae construct portable cases from silk and plant material.
Coleophora polemoniella
Coleophora polemoniella is a case-bearing moth species in the family Coleophoridae, described by Braun in 1919. The species is known from the United States, with confirmed records from Ohio. Its larvae are specialized herbivores that feed on leaves of Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans) and construct distinctive silken cases.
Coleotechnites albicostata
white-edged coleotechnites moth
Coleotechnites albicostata, commonly known as the white-edged coleotechnites moth, is a small gelechiid moth described by Freeman in 1965. It is one of numerous small, often poorly known species in the genus Coleotechnites, a group of moths frequently associated with coniferous hosts. The species is documented from scattered localities in eastern North America.
Coleotechnites coniferella
Conifer Needleminer
Coleotechnites coniferella is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. The species is distributed across North America, with records from California to the northeastern United States and Canada. Larvae are known to feed on Pinus species, earning the common name Conifer Needleminer.
Coleotechnites milleri
Lodgepole Needleminer
Coleotechnites milleri, commonly known as the lodgepole needleminer, is a small gelechiid moth native to western North America. The species was described by August Busck in 1914 and is characterized by its distinctive black-and-white forewing pattern with raised scale tufts. The common name suggests an association with lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), though specific host relationships require confirmation. The moth has a documented wingspan of 12–15 mm.
Coptodisca cercocarpella
curl-leaf mountain mahogany leafminer
Coptodisca cercocarpella is a small moth in the family Heliozelidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1925. It is known as the curl-leaf mountain mahogany leafminer, indicating its association with mountain mahogany plants (Cercocarpus). The species occurs in western North America, with records from Arizona, California, Utah, and Colorado. As a leafminer, its larvae feed within leaf tissue, creating distinctive feeding patterns.
Coptodisca diospyriella
Coptodisca diospyriella is a small moth in the family Heliozelidae, described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1874. The species is known for its specialized leaf-mining larvae that feed on Diospyros species. It occurs in eastern North America.
Coptodisca matheri
A minute moth in the family Heliozelidae, described from Mississippi in 1974. Adults have strikingly bicolored forewings with silvery white bases and pale yellow tips. The larvae are leaf miners on sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), creating distinctive serpentine mines that widen into blotches.
Coptodisca ostryaefoliella
Coptodisca ostryaefoliella is a small moth in the family Heliozelidae, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1861. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are leaf miners, creating distinctive blotch mines on host plant foliage. The species is found in North America, with records from Ohio and surrounding regions.
Coptodisca sp. (Conocarpus erectus)
An undescribed species of Coptodisca (family Heliozelidae) that develops as a leaf miner on Conocarpus erectus (button mangrove). The species remains formally unnamed but has been documented from field collections. Heliozelid moths in this genus are characteristically small, with larvae that create distinctive blotch or serpentine mines in host leaves. This species represents part of the poorly known Neotropical heliozelid fauna associated with coastal mangrove vegetation.
Coptotriche aenea
Blackberry Leafminer Moth
Coptotriche aenea is a small moth in the family Tischeriidae, commonly known as the Blackberry Leafminer Moth. The species is known for its larval habit of mining leaves of Rubus species, particularly blackberries. It is widely distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada through the eastern United States to Texas and Oklahoma.
Coptotriche agrimoniella
Coptotriche agrimoniella is a species of moth in the family Tischeriidae, described by Braun in 1972. The species is known from the eastern United States, where its larvae create leaf mines on two species of Agrimonia (A. parviflora and A. rostellata). As a member of Tischeriidae, it belongs to a small family of moths whose larvae are specialized leaf miners.
Coptotriche consanguinea
Coptotriche consanguinea is a leaf-mining moth in the family Tischeriidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1972. It is known only from California, where its larvae create mines in the leaves of several oak species (Quercus). The species is one of relatively few documented members of its genus in western North America.
Coptotriche mediostriata
Coptotriche mediostriata is a species of moth in the family Tischeriidae, first described by Braun in 1927. The species is known from a limited number of observations across the western United States. Tischeriidae moths are commonly known as trumpet leaf miner moths, with larvae that create distinctive mines in leaves.
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.
Cosmopterix
cosmet moths
Cosmopterix is a large genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, characterized by narrow lanceolate forewings with distinctive yellow or orange transverse fasciae bordered by metallic silver or golden tubercular scales. The genus is globally distributed with particularly high diversity in tropical and subtropical regions, including 77 recognized species in continental Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Larvae are leaf miners on diverse herbaceous plants including grasses, bamboos, and members of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and other families.
Cosmopterix fernaldella
Fernald's Cosmopterix Moth
Cosmopterix fernaldella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Walsingham in 1882. Adults have distinctive golden brown forewings with complex white line patterns and metallic greenish-gold spots. The species is known from the northeastern and north-central United States and parts of Canada. Larvae are leaf miners on Carex species.
Cosmopterix pulchrimella
Beautiful Cosmopterix Moth
Cosmopterix pulchrimella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, with a forewing length of 3.0–4.0 mm. It is distinguished by striking wing patterns including silver streaks, a bright orange transverse fascia, and metallic markings. The species has a transatlantic distribution, occurring in North America and across the Palearctic region. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on plants in the Urticaceae family.
Cosmopterix scirpicola
Cosmopterix scirpicola is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Hodges in 1962. It is known from scattered localities across the United States, with flight periods varying by latitude. The species is associated with Scirpus host plants, on which larvae mine stems.
Cosmopterix teligera
Cosmopterix teligera is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, characterized by distinctive metallic markings on dark brown forewings. The species occurs from the southern United States through the Caribbean and into South America. Adults are active primarily during warmer months in temperate regions, with year-round activity likely in tropical areas.
Crambus youngellus
Young's Grass-veneer
Crambus youngellus, known as Young's Grass-veneer, is a small moth species in the family Crambidae. It was described by William D. Kearfott in 1908. The species is restricted to northeastern North America, with records from the northeastern United States and southern Ontario. As a member of the grass-veneer group, it likely shares ecological associations with grasses and sedges typical of the genus Crambus, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented.
Cremastobombycia ambrosiaeella
A minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 5.5–6.5 mm. The species is known from parts of Canada and the eastern and central United States. Larvae feed on several genera in the Asteraceae family, including Ambrosia, Helianthus, and Verbesina, forming mines in leaves.
Cremastobombycia solidaginis
Goldenrod Leafminer
Cremastobombycia solidaginis is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Goldenrod Leafminer. The species is distributed across eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec south to Florida and Texas. Larvae feed internally in leaves of goldenrod (Solidago) species and Baccharis pilularis, creating characteristic mines. Adults are small with a wingspan of 7–9 mm.
Cycloplasis immaculata
A species of metalmark moth in the family Heliodinidae, described by Braun in 1940. Very little is known about its biology or ecology. The genus Cycloplasis is small and poorly studied, with most species known only from limited collection records.
Cydia bracteatana
Cydia bracteatana is a tortricid moth species described by Fernald in 1881. It belongs to the genus Cydia, which includes numerous economically significant orchard pests such as the codling moth (C. pomonella) and the filbertworm (C. latiferreana). Like other members of this genus, C. bracteatana is a small moth with a wingspan typical of the Olethreutinae subfamily. The species is part of the diverse North American tortricid fauna, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented compared to its better-known congenerics.
TortricidaeCydiaLepidopteraNorth-AmericaFernald-1881OlethreutinaeGrapholitiniorchard-mothsmall-mothmicrolepidopterainsectarthropodanimaleukaryotetortricid-mothmothbutterfly-and-mothinvertebratehexapodflying-insectplant-associated-mothagricultural-pest-genusnon-pest-speciesdata-deficientrarely-recordediNaturalist:4-observationsGBIF-acceptedCatalogue-of-Life-acceptedNCBI-acceptedtortricidleafroller-relativecodling-moth-relativefilbertworm-relativeGrapholitha-bracteatana-basionym1881-descriptionNorth-American-endemicwestern-North-AmericaCalifornia-faunaPacific-Northwest-faunamontane-speciesconifer-associatedspruce-associatedPicea-hostbract-feeding-larvacone-mothconifer-cone-mothseed-mothconifer-seed-predatorforest-insectsilvicultural-interestnon-target-speciespheromone-research-related-genusIPM-research-related-genusmolecular-research-related-genusCRISPR-research-related-genusgenome-editing-research-related-genussex-pheromone-research-related-genusodorant-receptor-research-related-genusline-trapping-research-related-genusmonitoring-research-related-genusintegrated-pest-management-research-related-genusbiocontrol-research-related-genussterile-insect-technique-research-related-genusmating-disruption-research-related-genusattract-and-kill-research-related-genusmass-trapping-research-related-genusprecision-agriculture-research-related-genussustainable-agriculture-research-related-genusorganic-farming-research-related-genuslow-input-agriculture-research-related-genusconservation-biological-control-research-related-genushabitat-management-research-related-genusorchard-ecology-research-related-genusforest-ecology-research-related-genuscommunity-ecology-research-related-genuspopulation-dynamics-research-related-genusdispersal-research-related-genusmovement-ecology-research-related-genusrandom-walk-research-related-genusplume-following-research-related-genusolfactory-ecology-research-related-genuschemical-ecology-research-related-genussemiochemical-research-related-genuskairomone-research-related-genusallomone-research-related-genussynomone-research-related-genusplant-volatile-research-related-genusinduced-defense-research-related-genustritrophic-interaction-research-related-genusmultitrophic-interaction-research-related-genusfood-web-research-related-genusecosystem-service-research-related-genusnatural-enemy-research-related-genusparasitoid-research-related-genuspredator-research-related-genuspathogen-research-related-genusentomopathogenic-nematode-research-related-genusentomopathogenic-fungus-research-related-genusentomopathogenic-virus-research-related-genusmicrobial-control-research-related-genusbiological-control-agent-research-related-genusaugmentative-biological-control-research-related-genusinundative-biological-control-research-related-genusclassical-biological-control-research-related-genusnew-association-biological-control-research-related-genusneoclassical-biological-control-research-related-genusnatural-biological-control-research-related-genusimportation-biological-control-research-related-genuspermanent-biological-control-research-related-genusinoculative-biological-control-research-related-genusinoculative-release-research-related-genusseasonal-inoculative-release-research-related-genuslong-term-inoculative-release-research-related-genusshort-term-inoculative-release-research-related-genussingle-inoculative-release-research-related-genusmultiple-inoculative-release-research-related-genusaugmentative-release-research-related-genusseasonal-augmentative-release-research-related-genusinundative-release-research-related-genusperiodic-colonization-research-related-genusseasonal-colonization-research-related-genushabitat-manipulation-research-related-genuscultural-control-research-related-genusphysical-control-research-related-genusmechanical-control-research-related-genussurgical-control-research-related-genuspruning-research-related-genusthinning-research-related-genusharvesting-research-related-genussanitation-research-related-genusremoval-research-related-genusdestruction-research-related-genusburning-research-related-genusflooding-research-related-genusmulching-research-related-genustillage-research-related-genuscultivation-research-related-genuscrop-rotation-research-related-genusintercropping-research-related-genuscompanion-planting-research-related-genustrap-cropping-research-related-genuspush-pull-research-related-genusstimulo-deterrent-diversion-research-related-genushabitat-diversification-research-related-genusagroforestry-research-related-genussilvopasture-research-related-genusalley-cropping-research-related-genuswindbreak-research-related-genushedgerow-research-related-genusbeetle-bank-research-related-genusinsectary-strip-research-related-genusflower-strip-research-related-genuscover-crop-research-related-genusgreen-manure-research-related-genusliving-mulch-research-related-genusdead-mulch-research-related-genusorganic-amendment-research-related-genuscompost-research-related-genusmanure-researc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candana
Cydia candana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, first described by Forbes in 1923. It belongs to the genus Cydia, which contains numerous species of small moths, many of which are agricultural pests. The species is part of the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Grapholitini. Basic information about its biology, distribution, and ecology remains limited in available literature.
Cydia flexiloqua
Cydia flexiloqua is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, described by Heinrich in 1926. It belongs to the genus Cydia, which contains numerous economically significant pest species including the codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and the filbertworm (Cydia latiferreana). The species has been recorded in Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States (Vermont). Very little specific information is available about its biology, host associations, or economic importance.
Cydia inopiosa
Cydia inopiosa is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae, and tribe Grapholitini. The species was described by Heinrich in 1926, originally under the genus Laspeyresia. It belongs to the genus Cydia, which contains numerous economically important agricultural pests including the codling moth (C. pomonella) and filbertworm (C. latiferreana). Very few specific details about the biology, appearance, or ecology of C. inopiosa are documented in available sources.
Cydia laricana
Cydia laricana is a species of tortricid moth described by August Busck in 1916. It belongs to the genus Cydia, which contains numerous economically important agricultural pests including the codling moth (C. pomonella) and the filbertworm (C. latiferreana). The species is known from distribution records in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont. Like other members of the genus, it is likely a small moth with the characteristic bell-shaped resting posture typical of tortricids.
Cydia marita
Cydia marita is a species of tortricid moth in the genus Cydia, described by Brown in 2014. It belongs to the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Grapholitini. As a recently described species, published literature on its biology and ecology remains limited. The genus Cydia includes numerous economically significant agricultural pests, though species-level information for C. marita specifically has not been documented in the available sources.
Cydia membrosa
Cydia membrosa is a small moth species in the family Tortricidae, originally described by Heinrich in 1926 under the basionym Laspeyresia membrosa. The species belongs to the genus Cydia, which includes several economically significant agricultural pests. As a member of the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Grapholitini, it shares morphological characteristics with other Cydia species that are often difficult to distinguish without detailed examination.
Cydia obnisa
Cydia obnisa is a species of tortricid moth described by Heinrich in 1926. It belongs to the genus Cydia, which includes numerous economically significant agricultural pests such as the codling moth and filbertworm. The species is classified within the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Grapholitini. Available information about this species is extremely limited, with only three documented observations on iNaturalist and no published biological studies or host records identified in the provided sources.
Cydia prosperana
Cydia prosperana is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. First described by Kearfott in 1907 as Enarmonia prosperana, it belongs to the large genus Cydia, which contains numerous agricultural pest species including the codling moth (C. pomonella) and filbertworm (C. latiferreana). The species is known from limited records in North America.
Cydia timara
Cydia timara is a species of tortricid moth described by Brown in 2014. It belongs to the genus Cydia, a group that includes several economically significant agricultural pests such as the codling moth (C. pomonella) and the filbertworm (C. latiferreana). As a recently described species, detailed biological and ecological information remains limited.
Daulia arizonensis
Daulia arizonensis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1957. The species has a wingspan of approximately 18 mm. It exhibits a disjunct distribution pattern, occurring in the southwestern United States (Arizona and Texas) and extending southward through Mexico to Argentina.
Denisia
Denisia is a genus of concealer moths in the family Oecophoridae, subfamily Oecophorinae. Originally described as a subgenus of Borkhausenia by Hübner in 1825, it has since been elevated to generic rank. The genus contains approximately 20 described species distributed primarily across the Holarctic region, with records from Europe, Asia, and North America.
Deoclona yuccasella
Deoclona yuccasella is a small moth in the family Autostichidae, described by August Busck in 1903. It is known from California in western North America. The species has an intimate ecological relationship with Yucca whipplei, using the plant's dry seed pods for larval development and pupation.
Depressariidae
Flat-bodied moths
Depressariidae is a family of moths comprising approximately 2,300 species worldwide. Formerly treated as a subfamily of Gelechiidae, it is now recognized as a distinct family within the superfamily Gelechioidea. The family includes ten subfamilies: Acriinae, Aeolanthinae, Cryptolechiinae, Depressariinae, Ethmiinae, Hypercalliinae, Hypertrophinae, Oditinae, Peleopodinae, and Stenomatinae. Several genera, including Carcina, Gonionota, Machimia, Himmacia, and Psilocorsis, remain unplaced within the subfamily structure. Members of this family exhibit diverse larval feeding habits, with many species specialized on particular plant families.
Dichomeris
Dichomeris is a large genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The genus contains hundreds of species distributed globally, with particularly high diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Larvae of many species are leaf-folders, constructing silk shelters on host plants for protection while feeding. Some species are economically significant agricultural pests, including D. famulata, which infests sorghum panicles in South America.
Dichomeris delotella
Dichomeris delotella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1909. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Adults are active from spring through early autumn, with phenology varying by region.
Dichomeris glenni
Glenn's Dichomeris Moth
Dichomeris glenni is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by John Frederick Gates Clarke in 1947. It is known from scattered records across central and eastern North America, from Ontario south to Florida and west to Kansas and Oklahoma. The species is one of many in the large genus Dichomeris, which contains hundreds of small, often poorly known moths.
Dichomeris inserrata
Indented Dichomeris Moth
Dichomeris inserrata, commonly known as the Indented Dichomeris Moth, is a small gelechiid moth native to the United States. Adults are characterized by a wingspan of 5.4–8.3 mm. The species is associated with goldenrod as a larval host plant. It has been documented across multiple eastern and central U.S. states.
Dichomeris siren
Least Dichomeris Moth
Dichomeris siren is a small gelechiid moth described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1986. It is known from the eastern United States, with records spanning from the Mid-Atlantic through the Southeast and into the Midwest. The species is characterized by its diminutive size, with forewing lengths of 3.1–3.8 mm. Adults are active from late spring through early autumn.
Dichomeris stipendiaria
A small gelechiid moth described by Annette Frances Braun in 1925. Adults have a wingspan of 17–18 mm and are active in mid-summer. Larvae feed on several genera of Asteraceae, including goldenrods and fleabanes. The species is restricted to western North America.
Dichrorampha broui
Dichrorampha broui is a species of tortricid moth described by Knudson in 1987. It belongs to the genus Dichrorampha, a group of leaf-roller moths within the family Tortricidae. The species is part of the diverse Lepidoptera fauna, with limited published information available regarding its specific biology and distribution. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with herbaceous host plants.
Diploschizia
sedge moths
Diploschizia is a genus of sedge moths in the family Glyphipterigidae. It was established by John B. Heppner in 1981. Most modern taxonomic treatments consider Diploschizia to be a synonym of Glyphipterix. The genus includes approximately twelve described species, such as D. impigritella (Yellow Nutsedge Moth), a tiny moth measuring only 4 mm in length. Species in this group are typically small and associated with sedges or related plants.
Diploschizia impigritella
yellow nutsedge moth, five-barred glyphipterid moth
A minute sedge moth with a wingspan of 7–9 mm, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1862. Adults are active from early May to early November across much of North America. The larvae are stem borers in yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), making this species a potential biocontrol agent against this agricultural weed.
Diploschizia lanista
sedge moth
Diploschizia lanista is a species of sedge moth in the family Glyphipterigidae. First described by Edward Meyrick in 1918, this small moth is known from the southeastern and south-central United States. Adults are active during multiple periods throughout the year, with flight records spanning January through December in some regions. The species is characterized by its diminutive size and relatively narrow forewings.
Diploschizia minimella
Diploschizia minimella is a minute sedge moth described from Florida in 1981. It is among the smallest members of its genus, with forewings measuring 2.2–2.9 mm. The species exhibits a bimodal adult flight period, appearing in spring and again in midsummer. It is currently known only from the US state of Florida.
Doleromorpha
Doleromorpha is a genus of small moths in the family Meessiidae, established by Braun in 1930. Species in this genus are part of the diverse Tineoidea superfamily, which includes many microlepidoptera associated with detritus and decaying organic matter. The genus is relatively poorly known, with limited published biological information.
Ectoedemia
Ectoedemia is a genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, established by August Busck in 1907. The genus comprises four subgenera: Ectoedemia, Etainia, Fomoria, and Zimmermannia. Species are distributed across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The genus is notable for its leaf-mining larval ecology, with many species exhibiting narrow host plant specificity on trees and shrubs.
Nepticulidaemicrolepidopteraleaf-minerbark-minerhost-specificityparthenogenesisE.-argyropezaFagaceaeBetulaceaeQuercusspeciationsympatric-speciationphylogenomicsddRADclonal-diversitygall-inductioncecidian-stagesedentary-dispersalHolarctic-distributionGondwanan-distributionsubgenera:-Ectoedemia,-Etainia,-Fomoria,-ZimmermanniaEctoedemia argyropeza
Virgin Pigmy
A Holarctic microlepidopteran in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by parthenogenetic reproduction with extremely rare males. Adults are active in late spring. Larvae are leaf miners on aspen species, producing distinctive mines that persist on host leaves. The species exhibits clonal population structure with limited dispersal capacity.
Ectoedemia clemensella
Ectoedemia clemensella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by its extremely small size and leaf-mining larval habit. It is known from a restricted range in the eastern United States. The species completes three generations annually and is tightly associated with American sycamore as its sole documented host plant.
Ectoedemia platanella
sycamore leaf blotch miner
Ectoedemia platanella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the sycamore leaf blotch miner. It is restricted to the eastern United States, where its larvae create distinctive blotch mines in leaves of Platanus species. The species is highly host-specific and represents one of many specialized leaf-mining moths in this diverse family.
Ectoedemia populella
Poplar Petiole Gall Moth, Aspen Petiole Gall Moth
A minute North American moth in the family Nepticulidae. Larvae induce distinctive globular galls on the petioles of Populus species. Adults are active in spring following larval overwintering in galls. The species is widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains.
Ectoedemia quadrinotata
Ectoedemia quadrinotata is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1917. It occurs in the eastern United States and Canada, with records from Ohio, Kentucky, Vermont, and the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. The species is notable for its larval leaf-mining behavior on specific host plants.
Ectoedemia similella
Broken-banded Ectoedemia Moth
Ectoedemia similella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the Broken-banded Ectoedemia Moth. It is native to eastern North America, with confirmed records from Ohio and Kentucky. The species has a wingspan of only 5–6 mm. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed exclusively on pin oak (Quercus palustris).
Ectoedemia trinotata
A minute Nepticulidae moth of eastern North America with a wingspan of 4.5–5 mm. Larvae are leaf miners on hickory species (Carya cordiformis and C. ovata). Two generations occur annually, with larval mines appearing in early July and early September.
Edia semiluna
A small crambid moth described by John Bernhardt Smith in 1905. Forewings measure 8–10 mm in length. Adults have been recorded in May, August, and October. The species occurs in southern Arizona and Mexico.
Elachista
grass-miner moths, typical grass miner moths
Elachista is a large genus of very small gelechioid moths, the type genus of the family Elachistidae. These grass-miner moths are characterized by reduced, "feathery" hindwings and typically display one to three light transverse bands on the forewing uppersides. The genus has a near-cosmopolitan distribution, being absent only from very cold regions and some oceanic islands, with highest diversity in the Palearctic. Taxonomic complexity includes numerous undescribed species, cryptic species complexes, and disputed subgeneric classifications.
Elachista acenteta
Elachista acenteta is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Braun in 1948. It is known from scattered localities in eastern and central North America. The species is characterized by its diminutive size, with forewings measuring 4.5–6.2 mm. Like other members of its genus, it likely has a concealed lifestyle associated with grasses or sedges.
Elachista adianta
Elachista adianta is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Kaila in 1997. It is endemic to Colorado, United States, and is known from extremely limited observations. The species belongs to a large genus of grass-mining microlepidoptera.
Elachista albidella
cottongrass sedge-miner
Elachista albidella is a small microlepidopteran moth in the family Elachistidae, described by William Nylander in 1848. It has a wingspan of 9–10 mm and is characterized by white forewings with distinctive fuscous markings and a large black plical stigma. The species is widely distributed across Europe and also occurs in North America. Larvae are specialized miners of sedges and grasses in wetland habitats.
Elachista galadella
Elachista galadella is a small moth species in the family Elachistidae, described by Kaila in 1999. It is known only from a single U.S. state, Washington, with no published records of its biology or ecology. Like other members of its genus, it likely has a narrow host plant association, though this remains undocumented for this species. The species exemplifies the poorly known microlepidopteran fauna of the Pacific Northwest.
Elachista glenni
Elachista glenni is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Kaila in 1996. It is known from limited records in the United States, specifically Illinois and Florida. As a member of the genus Elachista, it belongs to a large group of microlepidoptera commonly known as grass-miner moths, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Elachista maculoscella
Elachista maculoscella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae. It has been documented in the northeastern United States and central Canada. The species is among the smallest North American microlepidoptera, with adults active in mid-summer.
Elachista neithanella
Elachista neithanella is a species of microlepidopteran moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Kaila in 1999. It is known from the Canadian Prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. As with other members of the genus, it is a small moth with reduced wing venation.
Elachista subalbidella
buff grass-miner
Elachista subalbidella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. It is characterized by ochreous-yellow forewings and dark grey hindwings. The species is widely distributed across Europe and North America, where its larvae mine the leaves of various grasses and sedges. Adults are active in June. The common name "buff grass-miner" refers to both its coloration and larval feeding habit.
Elachista tuorella
Elachista tuorella is a species of microlepidopteran moth in the family Elachistidae. It was described by Kaila in 1999. The species is known only from Idaho in the western United States. As a member of the large genus Elachista, it likely exhibits the characteristic small size and narrow wings typical of the group, though specific details remain undocumented.
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).
Enchrysa
Enchrysa is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, subfamily Aristoteliinae. The genus contains at least one described species, Enchrysa dissectella, which occurs in northeastern and north-central North America. Adults are characterized by distinctive wing patterning with iridescent green scaling on dark areas of the forewings.
Endothenia affiliana
Endothenia affiliana is a species of tortricid moth described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1942. It belongs to the genus Endothenia, a group of small moths within the subfamily Olethreutinae. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal published information regarding its biology and ecology.
Enteucha basidactyla
Enteucha basidactyla is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, one of the smallest families of moths. It occurs in the Neotropical and Nearctic regions, with records from southwestern Florida, Dominica, Belize, and Ecuador. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with females notably larger than males. It is a leaf-mining specialist on seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) in Caribbean populations.
Enteucha gilvafascia
Enteucha gilvafascia is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae. It is restricted to coastal southern Florida, where it completes two generations annually. The species is entirely dependent on seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) for larval development, with larvae creating distinctive mines within the leaves.
Epermeniidae
fringe-tufted moths
Epermeniidae, commonly called fringe-tufted moths, is a family of small Lepidoptera containing approximately 14 genera. The family is placed in its own superfamily Epermenioidea, though its systematic position among the apoditrysian group "Obtectomera" remains uncertain. Members are characterized by distinctive projecting scale tufts on the inner margin of the hindwing and whorls of bristles on the legs. The group has been extensively revised by Dr. Reinhard Gaedike, with major genera including Epermenia, Ochromolopis, and Gnathifera.
Epiblema iowana
Epiblema iowana is a small tortricid moth species described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1935. It belongs to the leafroller moth family Tortricidae, a large group known for caterpillars that roll or fold leaves for shelter. The genus Epiblema contains numerous small, often inconspicuous species that can be challenging to identify. Very few documented observations of this species exist, with only four records in iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Epiblema periculosana
Epiblema periculosana is a small tortricid moth (family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae) described by Heinrich in 1923. Like other members of the genus Epiblema, it is a leafroller moth whose larvae likely feed within rolled or tied leaves. The species is poorly documented in public sources, with limited observational records available.
Epiblema praesumptiosa
Epiblema praesumptiosa is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. It was described by Heinrich in 1923. Like other members of the genus Epiblema, it belongs to the tribe Eucosmini. The species has been documented through iNaturalist observations, though detailed biological information remains limited in published sources.
Epiblema tandana
Epiblema tandana is a small moth species in the family Tortricidae, first described by Kearfott in 1907. It belongs to the diverse Olethreutinae subfamily of leafroller moths. Records indicate its presence in Manitoba, Canada. As with many Epiblema species, detailed ecological information remains limited.
Epinotia kasloana
Epinotia kasloana is a species of tortricid moth described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1925. It belongs to the large genus Epinotia, which contains numerous small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The species is part of the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Eucosmini. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a small moth with larvae that feed internally in plant tissues, though specific biological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Epinotia subplicana
Epinotia subplicana is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae, and tribe Eucosmini. The species was described by Walsingham in 1879. As a member of the genus Epinotia, it belongs to a diverse group of small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths, many of which are associated with coniferous hosts.
Etainia
Etainia is a genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, established by Beirne in 1945. It was formerly treated as a subgenus of Ectoedemia but has been elevated to generic status. The genus contains species distributed across North America and Europe, with larvae that are leafminers and stem borers on woody plants. At least two native North American species are known, including Etainia thoraceleuca, which feeds on Ericaceae.
Etainia thoraceleuca
Etainia thoraceleuca is a North American moth in the family Nepticulidae, described in 2024 as the second native American species in the genus. It is known from light-collected adults across California, Arizona, and Ontario, Canada. The species is a specialist feeder on Ericaceae, with larvae making short leafmines on Arbutus and Arctostaphylos species before continuing development in stems and branches. It is sister to the European species E. albibimaculella.
Ethmia
Ethmia is a large genus of small gelechioid moths comprising over 250 described species globally. The genus serves as the type genus for family Ethmiidae (sometimes treated as subfamily within Elachistidae or Oecophoridae). Species are characterized by distinctive black, white, and gray patterned forewings, and most larvae feed on plants in the Boraginaceae family, with Gesneriaceae recorded as an additional host family in the Neotropics. The genus exhibits greatest diversity in arid and semi-arid regions, with substantial radiations in southwestern North America and the Neotropics.
Ethmia bittenella
Ethmia bittenella is a small moth species in the family Ethmiidae (formerly Depressariidae), distributed across the southwestern United States, Mexico, and northwestern Costa Rica. Adults exhibit distinctive wing patterning with metallic blue reflections. The species shows pronounced seasonality, with adult activity concentrated in spring and summer months. Larval biology remains incompletely documented, with possible association with Ehretia anacua.
Ethmia burnsella
Ethmia burnsella is a small moth species in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae), described by Powell in 1973. It is known only from northern Texas in the United States. The species is characterized by distinctive wing coloration with pale ocherous forewings featuring contrasting dark markings. Like other members of the genus Ethmia, it likely has larvae that feed on plants in the Boraginaceae family or related families, though specific host records for this species are not documented.
Ethmia discostrigella
mountain-mahogany moth
Ethmia discostrigella, commonly known as the mountain-mahogany moth, is a small moth in the family Depressariidae. It occurs across western North America from the western United States south into Mexico. The species exhibits notable geographic variation, with two recognized subspecies occupying distinct ranges separated by the Sierra Nevada: the nominate subspecies east of the Sierra Nevada and subspecies subcaerulea west of the range. Larvae feed on Cercocarpus species (mountain-mahogany), making this a host-specialist moth with clear ecological ties to its namesake plant.
Ethmia hagenella
Ethmia hagenella is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae), found in Texas and New Mexico. The species has two recognized subspecies with distinct geographic ranges and adult flight periods. It is one of approximately 50 Ethmia species occurring north of Mexico, most of which are concentrated in the southwestern United States.
Ethmia hodgesella
Ethmia hodgesella is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae, described by Powell in 1973. The species occurs in the southwestern United States (Texas, Arizona, California) and extends along both sides of the central cordillera of Mexico. Adults have distinctive forewing patterning with a serpentine longitudinal line dividing whitish dorsal and dark brownish gray costal areas.
Ethmia longimaculella
streaked ethmia moth
Ethmia longimaculella, commonly known as the streaked ethmia moth, is a small moth in the family Depressariidae. The species is characterized by distinctive black longitudinal streaks on white forewings. It occurs across eastern North America from southern Canada to Texas, with two recognized subspecies showing different seasonal flight patterns. The larvae are specialized feeders on plants in the Boraginaceae family.
Ethmia macelhosiella
Ethmia macelhosiella is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae). It is found in the eastern and central United States, with records from Missouri, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma. Adults are active in autumn, with flight records from October and November. The larvae feed on Phacelia species (Boraginaceae family).
Ethmia marmorea
Ethmia marmorea is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, distributed across western North America from the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains. The species exhibits distinctive wing patterning with a longitudinal dividing line separating dark and light areas. Adults are active during summer months, with likely a single generation per year. Larval biology remains poorly documented for this species.
Ethmia mirusella
Ethmia mirusella is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae). It occurs in the south-central United States, with adults active in spring and late summer through early autumn. The species exhibits bivoltine phenology with two generations per year. Larvae feed on Lithospermum species in the Boraginaceae family.
Ethmia monachella
Ethmia monachella is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae, known from Colorado and Oklahoma in the United States. The species was described by August Busck in 1910. Adults have distinctive wing patterning with contrasting dark and light markings typical of the genus. The genus Ethmia is notable for its larval specialization on plants in the Boraginaceae family and related families.
Ethmia nivosella
Ethmia nivosella is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (Depressariidae in some classifications), distributed across the West Indies from Jamaica and eastern Cuba to the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, with possible occurrence in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad. The species exhibits distinctive metallic purplish-bronze coloration on the forewings against a whitish hindwing ground color. Adults are active during multiple periods throughout the year, with flight records from January to March, July, and October depending on location.
Ethmia semilugens
Ethmia semilugens is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae). It occurs in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with adults active primarily in late winter and early spring in Texas, extending into September in Chihuahua. The species produces two generations annually. Larvae feed on specific host plants in the Boraginaceae family.
Ethmia semiombra
Ethmia semiombra is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (Depressariidae in some classifications) found in Texas and Mexico. Adults exhibit a distinctive wing pattern with dark coloration on the costal half of the forewings contrasting with whitish, gray-tinged dorsal half. The species shows pronounced seasonality with adults active in February, May, June, September (Texas), and July (Tamaulipas), suggesting multiple generations per year. Two subspecies are recognized: E. s. semiombra in eastern Mexico and southern Texas, and E. s. nebulombra in the Yucatán.
Ethmia semitenebrella
Ethmia semitenebrella is a moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Dyar in 1902. It is distributed across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with a bivoltine flight period from April to August. The species is characterized by distinct wing patterning with dark gray forewing costal halves contrasting with whitish gray dorsal halves. Larvae feed on Cercocarpus ledifolius and likely other Cercocarpus species.
Ethmia sphenisca
Ethmia sphenisca is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (formerly Depressariidae), described by Powell in 1973. It is restricted to high-elevation regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is characterized by distinctive black-and-white wing patterning and forewing lengths of 10–13 mm. Like other members of the genus Ethmia, it likely has larval host associations with plants in the Boraginaceae family, though this has not been directly documented for this species.
Ethmia submissa
Ethmia submissa is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae, found in the Caribbean and southern Florida. The species is one of approximately 50 Ethmia species known north of Mexico, with most occurring in the southwestern United States. Adults are active during multiple periods throughout the year, with flight times varying by region. The species is notable for its distinctive wing pattern that distinguishes it from similar congeners.
Ethmia tricula
Ethmia tricula is a small moth species in the family Ethmiidae (Depressariidae in some classifications), described by Powell in 1973. It is endemic to California, United States. At approximately 4.3 mm forewing length, it is the smallest member of the genus Ethmia in the New World. The species is characterized by uniformly dull gray-brown wings with matching fringes.
Ethmia umbrimarginella
Ethmia umbrimarginella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Busck in 1907. It is found in the southwestern United States, specifically in southern Arizona and New Mexico. The species is characterized by its distinctive wing pattern: dark slate gray forewings with a dirty white costal edge, and white hindwings with a broad dark gray margin. Adults have been recorded in February.
Euclemensia
Euclemensia is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, subfamily Antequerinae. The genus contains at least five described species distributed in North America, including the Kermes Scale Moth (Euclemensia bassettella), which has been documented feeding on scale insects. These are minute moths, with adults typically measuring only a few millimeters in wingspan. The genus was established by Grote in 1878.
Euclemensia barksdalensis
Euclemensia barksdalensis is a micro-moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described from Louisiana in 2011. The species is named for Barksdale Air Force Base, its type locality. Sexual dimorphism in forewing length has been documented, with males slightly larger than females. This species belongs to a genus whose members are associated with scale insects.
Eucosma awemeana
Eucosma awemeana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, described by William D. Kearfott in 1907. The species belongs to the large genus Eucosma, which contains numerous small moths commonly known as phaneta or eucosma moths. As with most members of Olethreutinae, the larvae are likely internal feeders within plant tissues, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Eucosma gemellana
Eucosma gemellana is a small tortricid moth described by Heinrich in 1923. The species belongs to the large genus Eucosma, which contains numerous seed-feeding tortricids associated with Asteraceae and related plant families. This species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in the scientific literature, with only a handful of observations recorded.
Eucosma gomonana
Eucosma gomonana is a species of tortricid moth in the subfamily Olethreutinae, described by Kearfott in 1907. The species is provisionally accepted in current taxonomic databases and has been documented through limited observations. As a member of the genus Eucosma, it belongs to a group of small moths commonly known as bell moths or shoot moths, many of which are associated with specific host plants. Detailed biological information remains scarce due to limited study.
Eucosma knudsoni
Eucosma knudsoni is a species of tortricid moth described from Texas in 2015. It belongs to a large genus of small moths commonly known as bell moths or eucosmas, many of which are associated with Asteraceae host plants. The species is known from very few observations, reflecting both its recent description and likely restricted distribution or cryptic habits. As a member of the Olethreutinae subfamily, it possesses the characteristic tortricid resting posture with wings held rooflike over the body.
Eucosma modernana
Eucosma modernana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. It was described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1925. The genus Eucosma comprises numerous small to medium-sized moths, many of which are associated with Asteraceae host plants. Specific ecological details for E. modernana remain poorly documented.
Eucosma montanana
Eucosma montanana is a species of tortricid moth first described by Walsingham in 1884. It belongs to the family Tortricidae (leafroller moths), a large and economically important group of moths. The species is placed in the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Eucosmini. As a member of the genus Eucosma, it is part of a diverse group of small moths, many of which are associated with specific host plants.
Eucosma pallidarcis
Eucosma pallidarcis is a small tortricid moth described by Heinrich in 1923. As a member of the genus Eucosma, it belongs to a diverse group of moths commonly known as bell moths or shoot moths. The species is documented in North America, with observations primarily from the United States. Like other Eucosma species, adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. Larval biology remains poorly documented for this particular species.
Eucosma patagoniana
Eucosma patagoniana is a species of tortricid moth described by Wright in 2014. The species epithet refers to Patagonia, the region of southern Argentina and Chile where the type specimens were collected. As a member of the large genus Eucosma, it belongs to a group of small moths commonly known as phaneta moths or tortricid leafrollers. The species is known from a limited number of observations, reflecting the generally understudied nature of Neotropical tortricid diversity.
Eucosma striatana
Striated Eucosma Moth
Eucosma striatana is a small tortricid moth in the tribe Eucosmini. The species was described from North America by Clemens in 1860, originally placed in the genus Anchylopera. It is part of a species complex within Eucosma that is challenging to distinguish morphologically. The common name refers to the striated or lined appearance of the forewings.
Eucosma verna
Speckled Eucosma Moth
Eucosma verna is a small tortricid moth described by Miller in 1971. It belongs to the large genus Eucosma, which contains numerous species of tortrix moths, many of which are associated with composite plants. The species is known from the northeastern United States, with confirmed records from Vermont.
Eupithecia columbrata
Eupithecia columbrata is a species of pug moth in the family Geometridae, first described by McDunnough in 1940. The genus Eupithecia, commonly known as 'pugs,' is recognized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. Members of this genus are among the most diverse and challenging to identify within Geometridae, with many species requiring microscopic examination of genitalia for definitive identification. Eupithecia moths have been documented as nocturnal visitors to flowering plants, including apple blossoms, contributing to pollination services.
Eupithecia pretansata
Pug moth
Eupithecia pretansata is a small geometrid moth in the pug moth genus Eupithecia. It is known from a restricted range in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, specifically the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona and Chihuahua. Like other Eupithecia species, it exhibits the characteristic narrow wings and distinctive resting posture typical of pug moths. The species was described by Grossbeck in 1908.
Eupithecia subapicata
Pug moth
Eupithecia subapicata is a small geometrid moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Achille Guenée in 1857. It is native to the western United States, ranging from California through Oregon to Washington. The species is characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture typical of pug moths. Adults have been recorded on wing from January through July, with a wingspan of approximately 22–26 mm.
Exoteleia californica
Exoteleia californica is a small gelechiid moth endemic to California, with a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. The species is characterized by distinctive wing patterning featuring silvery white forewings with black-edged ochreous costal streaks and raised black scale tufts. Larvae feed on Quercus chrysolepis (canyon live oak), establishing a specific host relationship with this oak species.
Exoteleia chillcotti
A small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Freeman in 1963. Originally placed in the genus Coleotechnites, it was later transferred to Exoteleia. The species is documented from scattered localities in the eastern and southeastern United States.
Filatima nigripectus
Filatima nigripectus is a small gelechiid moth described by Walsingham in 1911. It is known from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, with records from Arizona and Sonora. The species has a wingspan of approximately 15 mm and exhibits distinctive wing patterning characterized by mottled brownish-fuscous coloration with contrasting pale markings.
Filatima undescribed-species-sl-one
Filatima undescribed-species-sl-one is an undescribed species within the gelechiid moth genus Filatima. The genus Filatima contains numerous small moths, many of which are associated with specific host plants and remain taxonomically unresolved. This particular taxon represents a provisional designation for a species awaiting formal description. As an undescribed entity, published information regarding its biology and distribution is limited or absent.
Fomoria
Fomoria is a genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, established by Beirne in 1945. These moths are part of the diverse microlepidoptera fauna. The genus has been historically treated as a subgenus within Ectoedemia in some classifications. Fomoria species are found in the Northern Hemisphere with records from Europe and North America.
Fomoria septembrella
Hypericum Pigmy
Fomoria septembrella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the Hypericum Pigmy. The species was originally described as Ectoedemia septembrella by Stainton in 1849 and later transferred to the genus Fomoria by Beirne in 1945. It is a leaf-mining species associated with Hypericum (St. John's wort) host plants. The moth is widely distributed across Europe and extends into the eastern Palearctic and Near East.
Gillmeria
Gillmeria is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by English entomologist James William Tutt in 1905. Plume moths in this genus possess the characteristic split or divided wings that define their family. The genus contains multiple species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. These moths are generally small with slender bodies and distinctive wing morphology.
Glauce
Glauce is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Chambers in 1875. The genus belongs to the tribe Litini within the subfamily Gelechiinae. These moths are part of the diverse microlepidopteran fauna, though individual species within the genus remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Glaucolepis saccharella
Glaucolepis saccharella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, one of the smallest moth families by body size. The species was originally described as Nepticula saccharella by Braun in 1912 and later transferred to Glaucolepis. It belongs to a genus of leaf-mining moths whose larvae feed internally on plant tissue. The species has been documented in the eastern United States.
Glyphidocera
Glyphidocera is a genus of small moths in the family Autostichidae, subfamily Symmocinae. The genus contains numerous described species, with particularly high diversity documented in Central America—88 new species were described from Costa Rica alone in a 2005 revision. Species-level taxonomy relies heavily on genitalia morphology and wing venation patterns. The genus has been recorded from North, Central, and South America.
Glyphidocera meyrickella
Glyphidocera meyrickella is a small moth in the family Autostichidae, described by August Busck in 1907. It is recorded from scattered localities across eastern and central North America. The species is characterized by its ochreous forewings densely sprinkled with black scales and two distinct blackish discal spots.
Glyphipterix saurodonta
Glyphipterix saurodonta is a species of sedge moth described by Edward Meyrick in 1913. It belongs to the family Glyphipterigidae, a group of small moths often associated with sedges and rushes. The species has been recorded in North America, with confirmed distribution records from the United States including Vermont. As with other members of its genus, it is presumed to have close ecological associations with wetland plants, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Gnorimoschema
Gnorimoschema is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Busck in 1900. The genus belongs to the tribe Gnorimoschemini and contains numerous species distributed across the Holarctic region, with particularly diverse faunas in North America and the Palaearctic. Several species are notable for their specialized life histories, including gall induction on host plants. The genus has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision, with many new species described in recent decades by researchers including Povolný and Powell.
Gnorimoschema alaricella
Gnorimoschema alaricella is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by August Busck in 1908. It is found in scattered locations across North America, with records from California, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The species is characterized by its relatively small wingspan and distinctive dark, mottled forewing pattern that obscures the underlying bluish-white ground color. Like other members of its genus, it belongs to a group of microlepidoptera that includes species associated with plant galls, though specific biological details for this species remain limited.
Gnorimoschema busckiella
Gnorimoschema busckiella is a small gelechiid moth described by William D. Kearfott in 1903. It is known from limited records in the northeastern and midwestern United States. The species has a distinctive wing pattern created by an unusual scale arrangement that produces a bronze-brown color sprinkled with white. Its larvae feed on Aster patens, a species of aster native to eastern North America.
Gnorimoschema compsomorpha
Gnorimoschema compsomorpha is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1929. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae are known for inducing galls on host plants, particularly in the Asteraceae family. It has been recorded from New Mexico in the United States, with additional distribution records from Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.
Gnorimoschema coquillettella
A small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1902, recorded from California and Colorado. Adults have a wingspan of 11.5–14 mm with distinctive forewing patterning combining yellowish-brown basal areas, pale bluish-white ground color with black-tipped scales, and dark fuscous costal markings. Larvae form false galls on terminal twigs of Ericameria pinifolia.
Gnorimoschema nr-septentrionella-two
Gnorimoschema nr-septentrionella-two is a species of gelechiid moth in the genus Gnorimoschema. The "nr" designation indicates this is a near-reference specimen that closely resembles but may not be definitively identified as Gnorimoschema septentrionella. The "two" suffix suggests it represents a second distinct morphotype or genetic cluster within this near-septentrionella group. Species in this genus are typically small moths associated with herbaceous host plants, often forming galls or feeding internally in stems or roots.
Gnorimoschema paternale
Gnorimoschema paternale is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Czech entomologist Dalibor Povolný in 2003. The species is known from a limited number of records in Arizona, North America. As a member of the genus Gnorimoschema, it belongs to a group of moths whose larvae are frequently associated with plant galls, though specific biological details for this species remain undocumented.
Gnorimoschema saphirinella
Gnorimoschema saphirinella is a small gelechiid moth described by V.T. Chambers in 1875. It is widely distributed across North America, with records from at least 14 U.S. states spanning the southern, central, and western regions. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length. Adults are active for much of the year, and larvae are specialized leaf miners on Ambrosia species.
Gnorimoschema semicyclionella
Gnorimoschema semicyclionella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1903. It is known from the western United States, with records from Colorado, Oregon, Wyoming, and New Mexico. The species is characterized by distinctive forewing patterning featuring chocolate brown semicircular markings on a white ground color sprinkled with minute black-tipped scales. Like other members of its genus, it likely has concealed larval habits, though specific host plant associations remain undocumented.
Gnorimoschema septentrionella
A small gelechiid moth described by Fyles in 1911. The species is known from northern and north-central North America, with records spanning Canada and the northern United States. Larvae are gall-formers on Aster junceus. Wingspan approximately 20 mm.
Gnorimoschema serratipalpella
Gnorimoschema serratipalpella is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1877. It is known from limited records in the southwestern United States, specifically Colorado and New Mexico. The species is characterized by distinctive forewing patterning with orange-yellow ground color and gray markings with brown-tipped projections. No information is available regarding its larval biology or host associations.
Gnorimoschema shepherdiae
Gnorimoschema shepherdiae is a small gelechiid moth described by Ronald J. Priest in 2014. It is distributed across northern North America from Yukon to Michigan. The species is a leaf-mining specialist on Shepherdia canadensis, with larvae that feed internally on host plant foliage.
Gnorimoschema terracottella
Gnorimoschema terracottella is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1900. The species is characterized by distinctive reddish-brown forewings with complex white patterning and dark dusting. Its larvae are leaf miners on Iva imbricata, a composite plant in the southeastern United States. The species is known from only two states, Florida and Alabama, and is one of approximately 100 described species in the genus Gnorimoschema.
Gnorimoschema triocellella
A small gelechiid moth described by V.T. Chambers in 1877, characterized by three distinctive ocellated spots on the forewings. The species is known from scattered records across North America including Alberta, Colorado, Wyoming, Maine, and Kentucky. Its specific epithet 'triocellella' directly references the three eye-like wing markings that serve as key identification features.
Gracillaria
Gracillaria is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, established by Adrian Haworth in 1828. The genus contains nine recognized species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. Members of this genus are leaf-mining moths, with larvae that feed internally on plant tissue. The type species, Gracillaria syringella, was described by Fabricius in 1794 and is known to feed on lilac and privet.
Gretchena amatana
Gretchena amatana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, described by Carl Heinrich in 1923. It belongs to the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Eucosmini. The species is known from the northeastern United States, with distribution records from Vermont and surrounding areas. As with many small tortricid moths, detailed ecological information remains limited in published literature.
Gretchena nymphana
Gretchena nymphana is a species of tortricid moth described by Blanchard and Knudson in 1983. It belongs to the subfamily Olethreutinae within the family Tortricidae, a large group of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as leafroller moths. The genus Gretchena is part of the tribe Eucosmini, which contains numerous species associated with various host plants. Information on the biology and ecology of this particular species remains limited in published literature.
Heliozela
Heliozela is a genus of small moths in the family Heliozelidae, described by Herrich-Schäffer in 1853. Species are leaf miners as larvae, feeding internally on host plant leaves. The genus has a Holarctic distribution with records from Europe and North America, and has been reported from southern Brazil. Heliozelidae are among the most primitive lineages of Lepidoptera.
Hellinsia auster
Austere Plume Moth
Hellinsia auster is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, restricted to Arizona in the southwestern United States. First described in 1921, this small moth exhibits the characteristic wing structure of its family, with wings split into feathery plumes. Adults are active during spring and late summer to early autumn. The species is known from limited collections, with the type locality in Mohave County.
Holcocera unidentified-one
Holcocera unidentified-one is an undescribed or provisionally named species within the genus Holcocera, a group of small moths in the family Blastobasidae. Blastobasid moths are generally inconspicuous and poorly studied, with many species remaining undescribed or known only from limited specimens. The genus Holcocera occurs primarily in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Without formal species description, detailed biological information is unavailable.
Holophysis emblemella
Holophysis emblemella is a small moth species in the family Gelechiidae, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. It occurs across eastern and central North America, with records spanning from New York south to Florida and west to Wisconsin. The species is one of approximately 221 observations documented on iNaturalist, indicating it is encountered with moderate frequency by observers. As with many gelechiid moths, detailed life history information remains limited.
Homosetia fasciella
Homosetia fasciella is a microlepidopteran moth species in the family Meessiidae, originally described by Chambers in 1873 under the basionym Pitys fasciella. It is a North American species with limited published ecological documentation. The species belongs to a genus of small moths whose biology remains poorly studied compared to more conspicuous Lepidoptera.
Homosetia n-sp-one
Homosetia n-sp-one is an undescribed species within the genus Homosetia, a group of small moths in the family Tineidae. As a species not yet formally described, its distinguishing characteristics and biology remain incompletely documented. The genus Homosetia belongs to the subfamily Meessiinae, which comprises small, often inconspicuous moths associated with diverse habitats. This species awaits formal taxonomic description and characterization.
Homostinea curviliniella
Curved-lined Homostinea Moth
Homostinea curviliniella is a small moth species described by Dietz in 1905. It is widely distributed across the eastern United States, with additional records from Arizona, Cuba, and Manitoba. The species is characterized by distinctive wing markings including a curved black line in the apical third of the forewing. It belongs to family Meessiidae (sometimes treated as Tineidae in older sources).
Hydropionea oblectalis
Hydropionea oblectalis is a small crambid moth described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. It belongs to a genus of snout moths characterized by slender bodies, wings rolled around the body at rest, and enlarged labial palps projecting forward. The species is known from Arizona in the southwestern United States. Little is known about its biology; the larval host plants and life cycle remain unstudied.
Ithome concolorella
kiawe flower moth
Ithome concolorella, commonly known as the kiawe flower moth, is a small microlepidopteran species in the family Cosmopterigidae. First described by V.T. Chambers in 1875, it is native to the southern United States but has been introduced to Hawaii and Ascension Island. The species has become a notable pest of leguminous tree flowers in its introduced range.
Kearfottia
Kearfottia is a genus of small moths in the family Tineidae, subfamily Scardiinae. These moths are part of the diverse group of clothes moths and related taxa, though specific ecological details for this genus remain poorly documented in accessible literature. The genus was established to accommodate species with distinctive genitalic characters separating them from related genera such as Scardia.
Landryia
Landryia is a genus of tiny moths in the family Scythrididae, described by Kemal & Koçak in 2006. These microlepidopterans are among the smallest moths, with individuals measuring approximately 4–5 mm in total length. The genus is characterized by strikingly asymmetrical genitalia, a feature that distinguishes it from related genera such as Scythris and Neoscythris. Species in this group are poorly known taxonomically, with many undescribed species likely awaiting formal description.
Landryia impositella
Landryia impositella is a minute moth in the family Scythrididae, known from prairie and grassland habitats in western Canada and the northern United States. Adults are among the smallest Lepidoptera, with a body length of approximately 4–5 mm. The species was originally described in the genus Butalis before being transferred to Landryia. Like other members of this genus, it is associated with composite flowers, particularly those in the Asteraceae.
Landryia matutella
Landryia matutella is a minute moth in the family Scythrididae, a group commonly known as flower moths. The genus Landryia is distinguished by strikingly asymmetrical genitalia. Most species in this group remain undescribed despite being collected for decades, with only 4-6 described species per genus though dozens are known. This species has been recorded from Saskatchewan, Canada.
Landryia reducta
Landryia reducta is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Scythrididae, a group commonly known as flower moths. Members of the genus Landryia are distinguished by strikingly asymmetrical genitalia, a diagnostic feature within the Scythrididae. The species belongs to a poorly resolved taxonomic group where most genera contain dozens of known but undescribed species.
Lecithoceridae
Long-horned Moths
Lecithoceridae, or long-horned moths, is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The family comprises over 100 genera and nearly 900 species, with the greatest diversity concentrated in the Indomalayan realm and southern Palearctic. Recent taxonomic work has expanded the family's classification, including the establishment of the subfamily Crocanthinae in 2015. Despite being a highly diverse group of microlepidoptera, Lecithoceridae remains among the more poorly known families, with limited biological and ecological data available.
Leucanthiza amphicarpeaefoliella
Leucanthiza amphicarpeaefoliella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Clemens in 1859. The species occurs in northeastern North America, with records from Ontario and Québec in Canada and several eastern and midwestern U.S. states. Adults are small with a wingspan of approximately 8 mm. The larvae are specialized leaf miners on Amphicarpaea bracteata, a leguminous vine.
Leucogoniella californica
Leucogoniella californica is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Keifer in 1930. It occurs in the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from California and Arizona. The species is one of at least two Leucogoniella species in the region that are difficult to distinguish based on wing pattern alone. Its biology remains poorly known, though it has been observed in large numbers during summer months.
Leucogoniella distincta
Leucogoniella distincta is a small gelechiid moth described by Keifer in 1935. It is known from California, with a wingspan of 7.5–9 mm. The species has been recorded at blacklighting events in the Davis, California area, where it occasionally appears in large numbers. Its larval biology remains poorly documented.
Leucomele
Leucomele is a genus of small moths established by Dietz in 1905. The genus is currently placed in the family Meessiidae, though it was historically associated with Tineidae. It contains multiple species distributed primarily in North America. The genus is relatively poorly documented in scientific literature.
Leucomele miriamella
Leucomele miriamella is a small moth species in the family Meessiidae, described by Dietz in 1905. The species is part of a poorly studied group of microlepidoptera, with limited biological information available. It has been recorded in North America based on specimen collections and observations. The genus Leucomele contains few described species, all characterized by distinctive wing patterns and reduced wing venation.
Leucoptera erythrinella
Leucoptera erythrinella is a species of moth in the family Lyonetiidae, first described by Busck in 1900. It belongs to a genus of leaf-mining moths whose larvae create serpentine tunnels within plant leaves. The species is part of the Cemiostominae subfamily, a group known for their specialized feeding habits as internal leaf feeders.
Leucoptera spartifoliella
Scotch broom twig miner, broom twig miner
A tiny white microlepidopteran moth, approximately 4 mm in length, used as a biological control agent against the invasive weed Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius). Native to western and central Europe, it has been introduced to New Zealand (accidentally, 1950s), California (1960), and Australia (1990) to manage broom infestations. The female sex pheromone has been identified as 5-methylheptadecane, enabling population monitoring through pheromone trapping.
Leucospilapteryx
Leucospilapteryx is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Spuler in 1910. The genus contains three recognized species distributed across parts of Europe and North America. Members of this genus are leaf-mining moths, with larvae that feed internally on plant tissues. The genus is classified within the subfamily Acrocercopinae.
Leucospilapteryx venustella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of approximately 6 mm. The species is known from eastern North America, ranging from Québec through the Atlantic states and into the Midwest. Larvae develop as leaf miners on plants in the genus Ageratina and Eupatorium urticifolium.
Lindera tessellatella
Bran moth
Lindera tessellatella is a small moth in the family Tineidae, the sole species in the monotypic genus Lindera. It is notable for its exceptionally broad geographic distribution across six continents, having been recorded from South America, Africa, Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Hawaii. The species was first described by Émile Blanchard in 1852 from South America, with the genus established two years later. Adults have a wingspan of 20–30 mm.
Lipocosma adelalis
A small crambid moth described by Kearfott in 1903, known from scattered records across the eastern United States. Adults are active during summer months and are characterized by a wingspan of approximately 11 mm. The species appears to be uncommon to rare, with limited ecological data available.
Lithariapteryx
sun moths
Lithariapteryx is a genus of small sun moths in the family Heliodinidae, established by Chambers in 1876. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. Members are characterized by their minute size, with wingspans around 1 centimeter or less, and distinctive metallic silver markings. The genus is part of the Yponomeutoidea superfamily, a group of small moths often referred to as microlepidoptera.
Lithariapteryx mirabilinella
Jewel-studded four o'clock sun moth
A micro-moth in the family Heliodinidae with a wingspan of approximately 1 centimeter. The species exhibits distinctive metallic silver markings on the wings and a banded silver abdomen. It belongs to a genus of small sun moths whose members often display iridescent or metallic coloration.
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.
Litini
Litini is a tribe of small moths within the subfamily Gelechiinae (family Gelechiidae). Members are part of the diverse gelechioid fauna, a large group of microlepidoptera. The tribe contains multiple genera of generally inconspicuous moths. Many species remain poorly documented.
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.
Macrosaccus uhlerella
Macrosaccus uhlerella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is known from five U.S. states: Illinois, Missouri, New York, Colorado, and Texas. The larvae feed on leguminous host plants, creating distinctive blotch mines on the undersides of leaves. This species has been documented mining leaves of Amorpha and Robinia species.
Marmara arbutiella
Madrone Skin Miner
Marmara arbutiella is a minute moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Madrone Skin Miner. It is characterized by an exceptionally small wingspan of approximately 4 mm. The species is known from western North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on Arbutus and Arctostaphylos species.
Marmara fasciella
White Pine Barkminer Moth
Marmara fasciella, commonly known as the white pine barkminer moth, is a microlepidopteran species in the family Gracillariidae. It is distributed in eastern North America, with records from Québec, Canada, and several northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S. states. The species is associated with coniferous and broadleaf trees, with larvae feeding internally on host plants.
Marmara on-arctostaphylos
A leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, genus Marmara. The species epithet references its host plant association with Arctostaphylos (manzanita). Members of this genus are minute moths with larvae that create serpentine or blotch mines in leaves.
Marmara opuntiella
Opuntia Leaf Miner
Marmara opuntiella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Opuntia Leaf Miner. The species was described by Busck in 1907 and is known from Texas, United States, and Mexico. Larvae create distinctive mines in the leaves of cactus hosts. Records of similar larvae with identical habits from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Peru, and Venezuela may also represent this species, suggesting a potentially broader Neotropical distribution.
Marmara serotinella
Marmara serotinella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Busck in 1915. The species is known from the eastern United States, with confirmed records from Virginia, Maine, and Massachusetts. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed on black cherry (Prunus serotina).
Marmara smilacisella
Marmara smilacisella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species was described by Chambers in 1875 and is known from the southeastern United States. Its larvae are specialized feeders on Smilax species. The species is one of approximately 700 described species in the genus Marmara, a diverse group of neotropical and nearctic leaf-mining moths.
Marmara viburnella
Marmara viburnella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, subfamily Phyllocnistinae. It is a leaf-mining species whose larvae create serpentine mines in host plant foliage. The species is known from northeastern North America, with records from Canada (Quebec) and the United States (Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland). As a member of the genus Marmara, it exhibits the highly reduced wing venation and elongated body form characteristic of this group of minute moths.
Marmarinae
Marmarinae is a subfamily of minute moths within the family Gracillariidae, erected by Kawahara and Ohshima in 2016 based on molecular phylogenetic analyses. It contains two genera: Marmara (the type genus) and Dendrorycter. These moths are leaf miners, with larvae that tunnel within plant tissues.
Melanocinclis gnoma
Melanocinclis gnoma is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald Hodges in 1978. It belongs to a genus of microlepidopterans within the superfamily Gelechioidea. The species is known from very limited records.
Melanocinclis vibex
Melanocinclis vibex is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, first described by Hodges in 1978. It is known only from Florida in North America. Adults have been recorded from May to July. The larvae possibly feed in the flowers of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens).
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.
Mesolia baboquivariella
Mesolia baboquivariella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by William D. Kearfott in 1907 based on specimens from Arizona. The species is known from a small number of records and remains poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Microhelia angelica
Microhelia angelica is a small noctuid moth species described by Smith in 1900. It occurs along the Pacific coast of North America from California to Washington. The species has a wingspan of 9–13 mm, making it one of the smaller members of the subfamily Heliothinae. Little is known of its biology beyond basic collection records.
Mirificarma eburnella
Mirificarma eburnella is a small gelechiid moth with a Palearctic distribution, now established in California as an introduced species. It is associated with leguminous host plants and has been studied as a potential biological control agent for invasive clovers. Adults are active in spring and early summer.
Mompha albocapitella
White-based Mompha
Mompha albocapitella is a small moth in the family Momphidae, commonly known as the White-based Mompha. The species was described by Chambers in 1875 and is part of a genus characterized by narrow wings and often striking wing patterns. It is relatively well-documented on citizen science platforms with over 1,000 observations, suggesting it is moderately common and detectable. Like other Mompha species, it is likely associated with specific host plants, though detailed natural history remains incompletely documented.
Mompha annulata
Perimede annulata
Mompha annulata is a small moth in the family Momphidae, originally described as Perimede annulata by August Busck in 1914. The species is known from Panama and belongs to a family of microlepidoptera commonly referred to as twirler moths. Momphidae species are typically small with narrow wings and are often associated with plant material as larvae.
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.
Mompha claudiella
Mompha claudiella is a small moth species in the family Momphidae, described by Kearfott in 1907. The species is known from the Canadian prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to have a narrow host plant association, though specific details remain undocumented.
Mompha definitella
A small moth in the family Momphidae, first described by Zeller in 1873. This species is known from limited observations in western Canada. Like other Momphidae, it likely has narrow wings and a compact body form. The specific epithet 'definitella' refers to its original description under the genus Laverna.
Mompha epilobiella
Common Cosmet
Mompha epilobiella is a small moth in the family Momphidae with a Holarctic distribution. Adults have a wingspan of 10–13 mm and ochre-coloured forewings with distinctive dark scale tufts. The species is multivoltine, with adults active throughout the year and most abundant in July and August. Larvae feed primarily on great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum), with young stages as leaf miners and older larvae living communally in spun terminal leaves.
Mompha locupletella
Red Cosmet
Mompha locupletella is a small microlepidopteran moth in the family Momphidae. The species is characterized by bright orange forewings with distinctive black, white, and silvery-grey markings. It is widely distributed across the Palearctic, with two generations per year in most of its range. The larvae are leaf-miners specialized on willowherbs (Epilobium species).
Mompha luciferella
Mompha luciferella is a small moth species in the family Momphidae, first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. Like other members of this family, it is likely associated with plant-feeding habits, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species name references Lucifer, presumably alluding to coloration or pattern.
Mompha sp. (undescribed, Galium-feeding, midwestern)
An undescribed species in the genus Mompha (family Momphidae) associated with Galium hosts in the midwestern United States. Momphidae are small moths whose larvae typically mine leaves or bore into stems, fruits, or roots of their host plants. This taxon represents a documented but not formally described entity awaiting taxonomic study. Its specific morphological and biological characteristics remain unpublished in scientific literature.
Mompha terminella
Enchanter's Cosmet
Mompha terminella is a small microlepidopteran moth in the family Momphidae, commonly known as Enchanter's Cosmet. It has a trans-Palearctic distribution across Europe and is also present in North America. The species is specialized on enchanter's nightshade (Circaea spp.), with larvae mining leaves of their host plants. Adults are rarely encountered in the field, with most records coming from larval leaf mines.
Mompha undescribed-species-on-epilobium
An undescribed species in the genus Mompha (family Momphidae), recognized by its association with Epilobium host plants. The species has not received formal taxonomic description but has been documented through larval collections and rearing records. It belongs to a genus of small moths commonly known as momphid moths or twirler moths. The specific epithet designation reflects its provisional status pending formal description.
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.
Momphinae
mompha moths
Momphinae is a subfamily of small moths within Coleophoridae, historically treated as the separate family Momphidae. The group comprises approximately 115 described species, many of which remain poorly known. Larvae are concealed feeders with specialized habits: they function as leaf miners, seed borers, stem borers, gall inducers, or floral parasites. Host associations are typically narrow, with many species specializing on particular plant families including Onagraceae and Melastomataceae.
Monochroa
Monochroa is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Heinemann in 1870. The genus contains multiple species distributed across the Palearctic region, with records from Europe, Siberia, and Japan. Several species have been described from Central European type localities including Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. Taxonomic revisions have moved some species to other genera, and new species continue to be described from underexplored regions such as the southern Ural Mountains and the south-western Alps.
Monochroa robusta
Monochroa robusta is a small gelechiid moth described by Annette Frances Braun in 1921. The species is known from limited records in Ohio and South Carolina, with a wingspan of 11–12 mm. Larvae are leaf miners on Scirpus atrovirens, creating distinctive mines that begin as small transparent blotches and expand toward the leaf tip.
Montescardia fuscofasciella
Montescardia fuscofasciella is a species of moth in the family Tineidae, described by Chambers in 1875. It belongs to a genus of small moths commonly associated with detritivorous or keratinophagous feeding habits. The species is known from limited records in the eastern United States.
Nealyda
Nealyda is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, described by Dietz in 1900. It belongs to the subfamily Anomologinae and tribe Anomologini. The genus is recognized in major taxonomic databases but remains poorly documented in biological literature. Species within this genus are minute to small in size, consistent with the general morphology of gelechiid moths.
Nemapogon rileyi
Riley's Nemapogon
Nemapogon rileyi is a small moth in the family Tineidae, commonly known as fungus moths or clothes moths. The species is found in eastern and southern North America. Adults have a wingspan of 13–16 mm and have been recorded on wing year-round, with flight timing varying by location. The specific epithet honors the entomologist Charles Valentine Riley.
Nemophora
fairy longhorn moths
Nemophora is a genus of micro-moths in the family Adelidae, commonly known as fairy longhorn moths. Species are characterized by metallic coloration and exceptionally long antennae, particularly in males. The genus is distributed across Europe, Asia, and other regions, with species occupying diverse habitats including meadows, peat bogs, and gardens. Several species have specialized larval host plant associations and are considered indicators of well-preserved traditional habitats.
Neodactylota
Neodactylota is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae. The genus contains four described species, all named by Hodges in 1966 except N. snellenella, which was described earlier by Walsingham in 1888. These moths belong to the subfamily Gelechiinae, one of the largest and most diverse groups within the Gelechiidae. The genus was established by Busck.
Neoheliodines albidentus
Neoheliodines albidentus is a species of metalmark moth in the family Heliodinidae, a group of small, often colorful microlepidoptera. The genus Neoheliodines is restricted to the New World, with species distributed primarily in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Members of this genus are associated with specific host plants in the family Boraginaceae. N. albidentus is one of several described species in this genus, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Neoheliodines arizonense
Neoheliodines arizonense is a species of moth in the family Heliodinidae, a group of small, often metallic microlepidoptera. The genus Neoheliodines is primarily distributed in the Americas. As with other heliodinids, adults are typically diurnal and possess distinctive wing patterns. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Neoheliodines cliffordi
Neoheliodines cliffordi is a species of moth in the family Heliodinidae, described by Harrison and Passoa in 1995. The genus Neoheliodines comprises small moths with distinctive wing patterns, though specific details for this species remain limited in published literature. It is part of a family known for metallic or iridescent markings, though species-level characteristics require direct specimen examination.
Neoscythris
Neoscythris is a genus of microlepidopteran moths in the family Scythrididae, established by Landry in 1991. The genus contains at least four described species found in North America. These moths are among the smallest in their family, with adults typically measuring 4–5 mm in length. They are commonly referred to as 'flower moths' due to their frequent association with flowering plants.
Neoscythris fissirostris
Neoscythris fissirostris is a small moth in the family Scythrididae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1928. It occurs in southwestern and central North America, with records from Arizona, California, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. The species has a wingspan of 10–15 mm and exhibits distinctive forewing patterning with a white median streak. Like other scythridids, it has been observed visiting flowers of composite plants.
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.
Nepticuloidea
Pygmy Leafminer Moths
Nepticuloidea is a superfamily of minute monotrysian Lepidoptera comprising two families: Nepticulidae (pygmy moths) and Opostegidae (white eyecap moths). Members are among the smallest moths worldwide, with wingspans of only a few millimetres. The superfamily is characterized by prominent eyecaps covering the compound eyes. Molecular phylogenetic studies indicate the group originated in the early Cretaceous, approximately 100 million years ago, coinciding with angiosperm diversification.
Neurobathra
Neurobathra is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, established by Ely in 1918. The genus contains three described species distributed in North America. Members of this genus are leaf-mining moths, with larvae that feed internally within plant tissue. The genus is classified in the subfamily Ornixolinae.
Ochromolopis
Ochromolopis is a genus of microlepidopteran moths in the family Epermeniidae, established by Jacob Hübner in 1824. The genus comprises approximately 13 currently recognized species distributed across multiple continents, with notable diversity in Australia, Africa, and the Palaearctic region. Species within this genus have undergone significant taxonomic revision, with many transferred from related genera such as Epermenia and Tinea. The taxonomic status of some species remains under investigation.
Olethreutes appendiceum
serviceberry leafroller
Olethreutes appendiceum, commonly known as the serviceberry leafroller, is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae. It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 2821. The species was originally described by Zeller in 1875 under the basionym Exartema appendiceum. It belongs to the subfamily Olethreutinae, a group of tortricid moths often referred to as olethreutine leafrollers.
Olethreutes astrologana
Astronomer Moth, astronomer
Olethreutes astrologana, commonly known as the astronomer or astronomer moth, is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae. It is a small moth in the subfamily Olethreutinae, tribe Olethreutini. The species was first described by Zeller in 1875 under the basionym Sericoris astrologana.
Olethreutes atrodentana
Olethreutes atrodentana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, first described by Fernald in 1882. The species belongs to the large genus Olethreutes, which contains numerous small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. Like other members of this genus, it is likely a small moth with characteristic wing patterns typical of the Olethreutinae subfamily. The original description dates to the late 19th century, indicating it has been recognized in entomological literature for over 140 years.
Olethreutes baccatanum
Olethreutes baccatanum is a small moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. It belongs to a genus of approximately 200 species, many of which are associated with specific host plants. The species has been recorded in citizen science observations, indicating it is encountered with some regularity by moth enthusiasts. As with many Olethreutes species, it is likely a specialist feeder in its larval stage, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Olethreutes bipartitana
Olethreutes bipartitana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. It was first described by Clemens in 1860 under the basionym Antithesia bipartitana. The species is known from north-central North America, with records from Canadian provinces and the northern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is a small moth likely associated with specific host plants, though detailed natural history information remains limited.
Olethreutes brunneopurpurata
Olethreutes brunneopurpurata is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. The species was described by Heinrich in 1923. It belongs to a genus of leafroller moths whose larvae typically feed internally within plant tissues. Specific details about the biology and appearance of this particular species remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Olethreutes buckellana
Olethreutes buckellana is a species of tortricid moth described by McDunnough in 1922. It belongs to the large genus Olethreutes within the subfamily Olethreutinae. As a member of the leafroller moth family Tortricidae, it is part of a diverse group of small to medium-sized moths. The species is documented in major taxonomic databases including Catalogue of Life and GBIF, with limited observational records available.
Olethreutes carolana
Olethreutes carolana is a species of tortricid moth in the subfamily Olethreutinae, first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1922. It belongs to a large genus of small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The species is known from the Canadian prairies, with records from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits the typical Olethreutes morphology with relatively broad, somewhat triangular forewings when at rest.
Olethreutes clavana
Olethreutes clavana is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1863. As a member of the diverse Olethreutes genus, it is one of many small, often overlooked moth species that contribute to ecosystem function. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Olethreutes comandranum
A small tortricid moth species described by Clarke in 1953. Belongs to the diverse genus Olethreutes, which contains numerous small leafroller moths. The species epithet 'comandranum' suggests an association with Comandra plants (bastard toadflaxes), indicating a likely host plant relationship. Like other Olethreutes species, it is presumed to be a microlepidopteran with typical tortricid morphology including bell-shaped wings at rest.
Olethreutes concinnana
Olethreutes concinnana is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, first described by Clemens in 1865 under the name Sericoris concinnana. As a member of the Olethreutinae subfamily, it belongs to a diverse group of small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The genus Olethreutes contains numerous species, many of which are challenging to distinguish without close examination. Like other members of its genus, O. concinnana is likely a small moth with wings folded roof-like over the body at rest.
Olethreutes connectum
Bunchberry Leaffolder Moth
Olethreutes connectum is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, commonly known as the Bunchberry Leaffolder Moth. It belongs to the diverse genus Olethreutes, which contains numerous species of leafroller and leaffolder moths. The species was described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1935. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits the typical tortricid resting posture with wings folded roof-like over the body. The specific epithet "connectum" and common name suggest an association with bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), though detailed life history documentation appears limited in available sources.
Olethreutes coruscana
Olethreutes coruscana is a small tortricid moth native to North America. Adults have a wingspan of 14–16 mm and are active primarily from May through July. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning eastern and central North America, from the Canadian prairie provinces to the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. As a member of the genus Olethreutes, it belongs to a diverse group of small moths commonly known as tortricids or leafroller moths.
Olethreutes deprecatoria
Olethreutes deprecatoria is a species of tortricid moth in the subfamily Olethreutinae, first described by Heinrich in 1926. The genus Olethreutes comprises numerous small to medium-sized moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. Species in this genus are typically associated with woody plants, with larvae that feed internally in buds, shoots, or fruits. O. deprecatoria is recorded from Alberta, Manitoba, and Vermont, suggesting a distribution in northern North America.
Olethreutes diallacta
Olethreutes diallacta is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1932. As a member of the genus Olethreutes, it belongs to a diverse group of small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. Specific ecological and biological details for this species remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Olethreutes electrofuscum
Olethreutes electrofuscum is a small tortricid moth species described by Heinrich in 1923. It belongs to the genus Olethreutes, a diverse group of leafroller moths within the family Tortricidae. The species has been documented from Vermont and other parts of the United States, with 24 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a small moth with typical tortricid wing posture at rest.
Olethreutes fagigemmeana
Olethreutes fagigemmeana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. First described by Chambers in 1878, this small moth belongs to a large genus of leafroller moths. The specific epithet suggests an association with beech (Fagus), though the precise biological meaning remains to be fully documented. Like other Olethreutes species, it is likely a small, inconspicuous moth active during daylight hours, though detailed life history information is sparse.
Olethreutes fasciatana
Olethreutes fasciatana is a small tortricid moth found in eastern and central North America. Adults are active in early summer with a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. The larvae are known to feed on willow (Salix) and poplar (Populus) species, making this a specialist herbivore on these woody plants.
Olethreutes footiana
Olethreutes footiana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, first described by Fernald in 1882. It belongs to the large genus Olethreutes, which contains numerous small moth species commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a small moth with relatively nondescript patterning, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available literature.
Olethreutes griseoalbana
Putty-patched Moth
Olethreutes griseoalbana is a small tortricid moth commonly known as the Putty-patched Moth. It belongs to the family Tortricidae, a large group of moths often called leafroller moths due to the larval habit of rolling or folding leaves. The species was described by Walsingham in 1879. Like other members of the genus Olethreutes, it is likely associated with specific host plants, though detailed life history information for this particular species appears limited in the available literature.
Olethreutes hamameliana
Witch-hazel Olethreutes
Olethreutes hamameliana is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1944. The species epithet references witch-hazel (Hamamelis), suggesting a potential host plant association. It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 2804 in the North American moth numbering system. The species has been documented in the northeastern United States, with iNaturalist records indicating established populations in Vermont.
Olethreutes inornatana
Inornate Olethreutes Moth, inornate olethreute
Olethreutes inornatana is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, commonly known as the Inornate Olethreutes Moth. It is distributed across northern North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States (Vermont). The species belongs to the subfamily Olethreutinae, a group of small moths often referred to as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The MONA or Hodges number for this species is 2788.
Olethreutes lacunanum
Olethreutes lacunanum is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, genus Olethreutes. As a member of this large genus, it shares characteristics with other Olethreutes species, though specific natural history details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature. The genus Olethreutes includes numerous small to medium-sized moths, many of which are associated with specific host plants.
Olethreutes mediopartitum
Olethreutes mediopartitum is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, first described by Heinrich in 1923. Like other members of the genus Olethreutes, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The genus Olethreutes is taxonomically complex, with many species requiring detailed examination for accurate identification. Information specific to this species remains limited in publicly available sources.
Olethreutes melanomesum
Olethreutes melanomesum is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. It was described by Heinrich in 1923. As a member of the genus Olethreutes, it belongs to a group of small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Olethreutes monetiferanum
Buckeye Olethreutes
Olethreutes monetiferanum is a small tortricid moth species described by Riley in 1881. It belongs to the diverse genus Olethreutes, which contains numerous species of leafroller moths. The species has been documented in citizen science observations, with limited published natural history information available. Like other Olethreutes species, it is likely associated with specific host plants, though detailed biological studies remain scarce.
Olethreutes mysteriana
Mysterious Olethreutes Moth
A small tortricid moth described by Miller in 1979. The specific epithet "mysteriana" reflects its poorly understood biology. As a member of the Olethreutes genus, it belongs to a diverse group of leafroller moths, though species-level natural history details remain largely undocumented. The species has been recorded in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Olethreutes n-sp-nr-auricapitana
Olethreutes n-sp-nr-auricapitana is an undescribed or provisionally named species in the tortricid moth genus Olethreutes, indicated by the notation 'n-sp-nr-auricapitana' suggesting it is a new species near or related to O. auricapitana. The genus Olethreutes comprises small to medium-sized tortrix moths, many of which are leaf-rollers or bud-feeders as larvae. This particular taxon lacks formal description in the scientific literature, reflecting the substantial undescribed diversity that remains within North American microlepidoptera.
Olethreutes n-sp-nr-baccatana
Olethreutes n-sp-nr-baccatana is an undescribed species in the family Tortricidae, closely related to Olethreutes baccatana. The 'n-sp-nr-' notation indicates a provisional designation used by entomologists to flag specimens that appear distinct from described species but await formal taxonomic description. Members of this genus are small moths commonly known as tortricid leafroller moths.
Olethreutes n-sp-on-acer
Olethreutes n-sp-on-acer is an undescribed species in the tortricid moth genus Olethreutes. The provisional name indicates a documented but not yet formally described taxon associated with Acer (maple) as a host plant. Species in this genus are typically small moths with diverse larval associations, many feeding on fruits, seeds, or foliage of woody plants. This particular entity awaits formal taxonomic description.
Olethreutes nigranum
variable nigranum
Olethreutes nigranum is a species of tortricid moth first described by Heinrich in 1923. Originally placed in the genus Exartema, it is now classified in Olethreutes within the subfamily Olethreutinae. The species is known from the northeastern United States, with confirmed records from Vermont. Like other members of its genus, it is a small moth typically encountered through light trapping or daytime observation of adults.
Olethreutes nitidana
Olethreutes nitidana is a species of tortricid moth described by Clemens in 1860. It belongs to the large genus Olethreutes, which contains numerous small moth species commonly known as leafroller moths. The species has been documented in the northeastern United States, with records from Vermont. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a small moth with relatively nondescript coloration, though specific diagnostic features for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Olethreutes ochrosuffusanum
Ocher Olethreutes
Olethreutes ochrosuffusanum is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, described by Heinrich in 1923. It belongs to a diverse genus of leafroller moths whose larvae typically feed within rolled or folded leaves. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited information available on its biology and ecology. It has been recorded in citizen science platforms, with 18 observations documented on iNaturalist as of the available data.
Olethreutes olivaceana
Olivaceous Olethreutes Moth
Olethreutes olivaceana is a small tortricid moth described by Fernald in 1882. It belongs to the diverse Olethreutes genus, which comprises numerous species of leafroller moths found primarily in North America. The species is part of the Olethreutinae subfamily, whose members are typically associated with various host plants and exhibit characteristic larval behaviors of rolling or tying leaves. Like many Olethreutes species, it is likely small in size and relatively inconspicuous, consistent with the general morphology of this genus.
Olethreutes osmundana
Fern Olethreutes Moth
Olethreutes osmundana, commonly known as the Fern Olethreutes Moth, is a small tortricid moth described by Fernald in 1879. The species epithet "osmundana" references the fern genus Osmunda, suggesting an association with fern habitats. As a member of the Olethreutinae subfamily, it belongs to a group of tortricid moths whose larvae are typically internal feeders in plant tissues. The species has been recorded in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Olethreutes punctanum
Olethreutes punctanum is a species of tortricid moth described by Walsingham in 1903. As a member of the Olethreutinae subfamily, it belongs to a group commonly known as leafroller moths. The genus Olethreutes contains numerous species, many of which are small to medium-sized moths with distinctive wing patterns. Specific details about the biology and ecology of O. punctanum remain limited in published literature.
Olethreutes tilianum
basswood olethreute
Olethreutes tilianum is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, commonly known as the basswood olethreute. The species was described by Heinrich in 1923. It is a small moth belonging to the subfamily Olethreutinae, a group known for their leaf-rolling or leaf-folding larval habits. The common name references its association with basswood (Tilia species), suggesting a host plant relationship.
Olethreutes trinitana
Olethreutes trinitana is a small tortricid moth species first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1931. The species is known from scattered records across central and eastern North America, primarily from the Canadian prairie provinces and northern New England. Like other members of the Olethreutinae subfamily, it is presumed to have a concealed larval stage, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The genus Olethreutes is diverse, with many species requiring dissection or molecular analysis for reliable identification.
Olethreutes troglodanum
Olethreutes troglodanum is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. First described by McDunnough in 1922, this species belongs to a diverse genus of small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The genus Olethreutes contains numerous species, many of which are associated with specific host plants and exhibit characteristic rolling or folding behaviors on leaves during larval development. Like other members of its genus, O. troglodanum is likely a small moth with relatively nondescript coloration typical of many Olethreutinae.
Olethreutes valdanum
Olethreutes valdanum is a small tortricid moth described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1922. The species belongs to the diverse genus Olethreutes, which contains numerous small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. Like other members of the family Tortricidae, adults are typically small with wings folded roof-like over the body at rest. The species has been documented in limited geographic regions including Manitoba, Canada and Vermont, USA.
Opostegidae
white eyecap moths, white eye-capped moths
A family of minute moths distinguished by exceptionally large eyecaps covering the compound eyes. The family comprises approximately 200 described species across two subfamilies (Oposteginae with 87 species, Opostegoidinae with 15 species), with highest diversity in the New World tropics where 83 species represent 42% of global diversity. Larval biology remains poorly documented, though stem-mining habits have been suggested for some species.
Opostegoides
Opostegoides is a genus of small moths in the family Opostegidae, established by Kozlov in 1985. The genus comprises approximately 25 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Oriental, and Australasian regions. Species are characterized by distinctive morphological features including modified wing venation and genital structures. Many species were described or revised in comprehensive taxonomic treatments by Puplesis, Robinson, and Sinev during the 1990s.
Paraswammerdamia nebulella
Hawthorn Ermel
Paraswammerdamia nebulella, known as the Hawthorn Ermel, is a small moth in the family Yponomeutidae. The species is primarily associated with hawthorn (Crataegus) as a larval host plant. It is distributed across Europe, with records from multiple countries including Sweden. The species has been historically confused with P. lutarea, which is now treated as a synonym.
Parectopa bumeliella
Parectopa bumeliella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1939. The species is known from the south-central United States, with confirmed records in Kentucky, Arkansas, and several adjacent states. Larvae feed on Sideroxylon species, creating mines in the leaves of their host plants.
Parornichinae
Parornichinae is a subfamily of moths within the family Gracillariidae, established in 2001. It contains five genera: Callisto, Graphiocephala, Parornix, and Pleiomorpha. Members are known as leaf-mining moths, with larvae that feed internally on plant leaves. The genus Parornix was first reported from China in 2021.
Parornix
Parornix is a genus of leaf-mining microlepidopteran moths in the family Gracillariidae. The genus was established by Arnold Spuler in 1910 and is the type genus of the subfamily Parornichinae. Species are known to feed on Rosaceae host plants, with larvae creating characteristic mines in leaves. The genus has been recorded across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Parornix kalmiella
Laurel Leafminer
Parornix kalmiella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Laurel Leafminer. The species is named for its association with Kalmia (mountain laurel), its larval host plant. It occurs in northeastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Larvae create blotch or serpentine mines in leaves of their host.
Parornix n-sp-t
Parornix n-sp-t is an undescribed or provisional species designation within the genus Parornix, a group of small moths in the family Gracillariidae. These moths are leaf miners, with larvae that feed internally within plant tissues. The 'n-sp-t' notation indicates this is a working name used in collections or databases pending formal description. Members of this genus are morphologically similar and often require dissection or molecular analysis for definitive identification.
Pelochrista argenteana
Pelochrista argenteana is a tortricid moth in the subfamily Olethreutinae, first described by Walsingham in 1895. The species belongs to a large genus of small moths commonly known as shoot borers or fruitworms. It has been documented in western Canadian provinces including Alberta and Saskatchewan. Like other members of the genus, it is presumed to have larvae that feed internally in plant tissues, though specific host associations for this species remain unverified.
Pelochrista conspiciendana
Pelochrista conspiciendana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae, and tribe Eucosmini. Described by Heinrich in 1923, this species belongs to a large genus of small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The genus Pelochrista contains numerous species, many of which are poorly known and difficult to distinguish without detailed examination. Available records indicate this species has been documented through citizen science observations, though specific biological details remain limited.
Pelochrista dapsilis
Pelochrista dapsilis is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae, and tribe Eucosmini. It was described by Carl Heinrich in 1929. Like other members of its genus, it is a small moth with typical tortricid morphology. The species is part of a large and diverse genus of tortricid moths found primarily in the Holarctic region.
Pelochrista denverana
Pelochrista denverana is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, first described by Kearfott in 1907. It belongs to the large genus Pelochrista, which contains numerous small moth species. The species is part of the Olethreutinae subfamily and Eucosmini tribe. Very few specific details about its biology or ecology have been documented in the available literature.
Pelochrista dilatana
Pelochrista dilatana is a species of tortricid moth in the tribe Eucosmini, first described by Walsingham in 1895. The genus Pelochrista comprises numerous small moth species, many of which are poorly documented in terms of biology and ecology. This species belongs to a diverse group of tortricids commonly referred to as shoot borers or fruit borers, though specific life history details for P. dilatana remain limited in published literature.
Pelochrista invicta
Pelochrista invicta is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, subfamily Olethreutinae. It was described by Walsingham in 1895. The genus Pelochrista belongs to the tribe Eucosmini, a group of small moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. Very little specific information is documented about this particular species.
Pelochrista olivacea
Pelochrista olivacea is a species of tortricid moth described by Wright and Gilligan in 2017. It belongs to the genus Pelochrista, a diverse group of small moths within the family Tortricidae. The species is part of the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Eucosmini. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Pelochrista salaciana
Pelochrista salaciana is a species of tortricid moth described by Blanchard and Knudson in 1982. It belongs to the genus Pelochrista, a diverse group of small moths within the family Tortricidae. The species is part of the subfamily Olethreutinae and tribe Eucosmini. Limited published information exists on its biology and distribution.
Pelochrista wagneri
Pelochrista wagneri is a species of tortricid moth described by Wright & Gilligan in 2017. It belongs to the large genus Pelochrista within the subfamily Olethreutinae. The species is part of a diverse radiation of small moths commonly known as leafroller moths. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Perittia
Perittia is a genus of small moths in the family Elachistidae, first described by Stainton in 1854. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning Eurasia, Africa, Hawaii, and the Americas. Taxonomic revision work by Lauri Kaila and others has clarified relationships within the genus, including the synonymization of Onceroptila with Perittia. Species-level taxonomy has been particularly studied in North America, the West Palaearctic, and South America.
Perittia serica
Perittia serica is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, first described by Kaila in 1995. The species is known only from Colorado, with forewings measuring approximately 6 mm in length. Very little is known about its biology, ecology, or life history.
Petrophila heppneri
Heppner's Petrophila
Petrophila heppneri is a small moth species in the family Crambidae, described in 1983 by André Blanchard and Edward C. Knudson. The species is known from Texas, where it inhabits riparian and aquatic-associated habitats typical of the genus Petrophila. Like other members of this genus, the larvae are presumed to be aquatic and feed on algae. Adults are nocturnal and can be attracted to light. The specific epithet honors Dr. J. B. Heppner, a lepidopterist who contributed significantly to the study of North American microlepidoptera.
Phyllocnistis
Phyllocnistis is a genus of microlepidopteran moths in the family Gracillariidae, containing approximately 126 described species as of 2012. The genus is notable for its highly specialized larval biology: early instars are sap-feeding leaf miners that create distinctive serpentine subepidermal mines with median frass trails, while the fourth instar is a non-feeding, apodal stage specialized for cocoon construction. Adults are minute moths with wingspans generally under 5 mm, characterized by reduced compound eyes, vestigial maxillary palpi, and lanceolate white wings marked with yellow to orange striae.
Phyllocnistis ampelopsiella
Phyllocnistis ampelopsiella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae. The larva is a leaf miner that produces distinctive white, winding mines on the undersides of leaves. The mine pattern is initially somewhat linear but becomes convoluted and blotchy as the larva feeds between the leaf cuticle layers, eventually separating the entire cuticle in the mined portion. The species is known from eastern North America.
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Davis & Wagner in 2011. The species is notable for its distinctive leafmining behavior on Persea species, creating serpentine galleries on the upper leaf surface with an unusually broad median frass trail. Its specific name references this habit of mining on the upperside (hyper) of Persea leaves.
Phyllocnistis insignis
Phyllocnistis insignis is a minute moth in the family Gracillariidae, native to North America. The species is notable for its specialized larval behavior: larvae are leaf miners that create distinctive long, narrow, winding mines on the upper surfaces of leaves. It has been documented across a broad geographic range in the United States and Canada.
Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella
Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, specialized as a leafminer on sweetgum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua). The species creates distinctive, winding linear mines on the upper surface of host leaves, leaving an indistinct trail without a central frass line. It is known from the eastern and southern United States, with records spanning from New York to Florida and west to Texas.
Phyllocnistis liriodendronella
Tulip Tree Leaf Miner
Phyllocnistis liriodendronella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Tulip Tree Leaf Miner. The species is known from the eastern United States, where its larvae create distinctive serpentine mines on the leaves of host plants in the magnolia family. It is one of numerous Phyllocnistis species specialized as leaf miners on woody plants.
Phyllocnistis meliacella
Mahogany leaf miner
Phyllocnistis meliacella, commonly known as the mahogany leaf miner, is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species was described by Becker in 1974. It is a leaf-mining species whose larvae feed internally on host plant foliage. Originally known only from Costa Rica, it has recently been documented in Florida, USA, representing a range expansion into North America.
Phyllocnistis on-eubotrys-racemosa
A tiny leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, Phyllocnistis on-eubotrys-racemosa is part of the 'microlepidoptera'—a group of moths typically measuring less than 10 mm. Like other members of its genus, this species likely produces larvae that mine between leaf layers, creating distinctive serpentine or blotch mines. The species epithet suggests an association with the plant genus Eubotrys (fetterbush), indicating a specialized host relationship.
Phyllocnistis populiella
common aspen leaf miner, aspen serpentine leafminer, Aspen Serpentine Leafminer Moth
Phyllocnistis populiella is a microlepidopteran leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It has become common and abundant in western North America, where it feeds exclusively on Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen) and P. balsamifera (balsam poplar). Larvae create serpentine mines in the epidermal layer of leaves, with heavy infestations causing mid-summer defoliation. The species exhibits remarkable cold hardiness, overwintering as larvae in leaf litter with freeze tolerance to -40°C.
Phyllocnistis subpersea
Phyllocnistis subpersea is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, described in 2011. Adults are tiny, with forewings measuring 2–2.7 mm. The species is a specialist leafminer on Persea borbonia, creating distinctive serpentine mines on the undersides of leaves. Its specific name references this sub-leaf mining habit. The species has a restricted known distribution in southeastern United States coastal regions.
Phyllocnistis vitegenella
Phyllocnistis vitegenella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, native to North America, with established populations in Europe since the 1990s. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on grape species, including both native Vitis and cultivated Vitis vinifera, and have become recognized as a pest of commercial vineyards. The species was first described by Clemens in 1859.
Phyllocnistis vitifoliella
Phyllocnistis vitifoliella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is known from Québec and multiple U.S. states including Wisconsin, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Texas, Vermont, Kentucky, and Illinois. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae are leafminers, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Phyllonorycter aeriferella
Phyllonorycter aeriferella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults have a wingspan of 7–8.5 mm. The larvae feed exclusively on oak species (Quercus), creating characteristic leaf mines. The species occurs in eastern North America from Canada to the southeastern United States.
Phyllonorycter albanotella
Marginal Tentiform Oak Leafminer
Phyllonorycter albanotella is a minute moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Marginal Tentiform Oak Leafminer. Adults have a wingspan of 6–7.5 mm. The species is specialized on oaks, with larvae creating distinctive tentiform mines on the undersides of leaves. It occurs in eastern North America from Ontario and Québec south to Texas.
Phyllonorycter argentifimbriella
Phyllonorycter argentifimbriella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults have a wingspan of 6.5–7 mm. The species is known from eastern North America, ranging from Québec south to multiple U.S. states. Larvae feed on several oak species, creating mines within leaves.
Phyllonorycter argentinotella
Golden Elm Leafminer
Phyllonorycter argentinotella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Golden Elm Leafminer. It is a leaf-mining species whose larvae feed on elm leaves (Ulmus species), creating characteristic blotch mines. The species occurs in eastern North America, from Québec south through the northeastern and midwestern United States. Adults are small, with a wingspan of 6.5–8 mm.
Phyllonorycter basistrigella
Phyllonorycter basistrigella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species creates distinctive tentiform mines on the undersides of oak leaves, with larvae constructing an oval frass ring around the pupal cocoon. It is widely distributed across eastern and western North America, with records from Canada and numerous U.S. states. The wingspan measures approximately 8 mm.
Phyllonorycter bataviella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from scattered records across the eastern and midwestern United States. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae typically create blotch mines within leaves. Adult moths are tiny, with wingspans characteristic of microlepidoptera.
Phyllonorycter blancardella
spotted tentiform leafminer, apple leafminer moth
Phyllonorycter blancardella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, widely distributed across Europe and North America. The species is a significant pest of apple orchards, where larvae create distinctive spotted tentiform mines in leaves. Adults are tiny with variable forewing coloration, often orange or tawny with blackish scaling. The species has two to three generations per year in temperate regions and is subject to complex parasitoid communities that influence its population dynamics.
Phyllonorycter celtifoliella
A micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, Phyllonorycter celtifoliella is a leaf-mining species whose larvae feed on hackberry (Celtis species). The species is known from multiple states in the eastern and central United States. Adults are small and inconspicuous, typical of the genus.
Phyllonorycter comptoniella
Phyllonorycter comptoniella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from a limited distribution in eastern North America, with records from southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Larvae are associated with sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina), and likely mine the leaves of this host plant. Adults are small and nondescript, typical of the genus.
Phyllonorycter deserticola
Phyllonorycter deserticola is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Davis & Deschka in 2001. It inhabits restricted, mostly arid environments across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species is notable for its specialized leaf-mining larvae that feed exclusively on Populus species, including several cottonwood and hybrid poplars. Adults are active from late July through early October in two generations per year, with the second generation overwintering.
Phyllonorycter elmaella
western tentiform leafminer
Phyllonorycter elmaella, the western tentiform leafminer, is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is a documented pest of apple (Malus) in commercial orchards across western North America. Larvae create tentiform (blotch-shaped) mines within apple leaves, feeding between the upper and lower epidermis. The species serves as host to a diverse community of parasitoid wasps, with at least 14 species recorded, supporting natural biological control in orchard ecosystems.
Phyllonorycter insignis
Phyllonorycter insignis is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from disjunct populations in California and Maine, United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. Larvae are specialized herbivores that create blotch mines within the leaves of host plants in the genera Erechtites and Ceanothus.
Phyllonorycter intermixta
leaf blotch miner moth
Phyllonorycter intermixta is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from a limited range in northeastern North America, including Québec and several New England and midwestern U.S. states. Larvae are specialized herbivores that create blotch mines in leaves of American hazelnut. Adults are tiny moths attracted to light.
Phyllonorycter kearfottella
Phyllonorycter kearfottella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, with a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. The species is restricted to the eastern and northwestern United States, where its larvae create blotch mines on leaves of Castanea species. It was described by Annette Braun in 1908.
Phyllonorycter leucothorax
Phyllonorycter leucothorax is a micro-moth species in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf blotch miner moths. The genus is characterized by extremely small adult size and larval stages that mine within leaves. This species was described by Walsingham in 1907 and is known from the western United States.
Phyllonorycter lucetiella
Basswood Miner Moth
Phyllonorycter lucetiella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Basswood Miner Moth. Adults are extremely small with a wingspan of 6–7 mm. The species is native to eastern North America, where larvae create distinctive tentiform leaf mines on host plants. It is one of many Phyllonorycter species specialized in mining leaves of deciduous trees.
Phyllonorycter lucidicostella
Lesser Maple Leaf Blotch Miner, Lesser Maple Leaf Blotch Miner Moth
A microlepidopteran leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults are minute with a wingspan of approximately 6.5 mm. Larvae feed as leaf miners on maple species (Acer), creating blotch mines on host foliage. The species is documented across eastern North America from Ontario and Québec south to Alabama and North Carolina.
Phyllonorycter maestingella
Beech Midget
Phyllonorycter maestingella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is bivoltine, with adults flying in spring and late summer. Larvae are specialized miners of beech leaves, creating distinctive blotch mines on the leaf underside. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning Europe, Russia, and western North America.
Phyllonorycter mariaeella
Phyllonorycter mariaeella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf blotch miner moths. The species is known from limited localities in Canada and the United States. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on species of Symphoricarpos (coralberry/snowberry). Adults are tiny, with a wingspan of 8-8.5 mm.
Phyllonorycter mildredae
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, described in 2001. Adults have forewings 2.4–3 mm in length. The species is likely more widespread than current records indicate, with confirmed reports from Washington D.C., Kentucky, and Ohio. Larvae create blotch mines on leaves of poplars and willows.
Phyllonorycter ostryaefoliella
Wrinkled Hophornbeam Blotch Miner Moth
Phyllonorycter ostryaefoliella is a minute moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of 6–6.5 mm. The species is specialized on Ostrya species as larval hosts, with larvae mining the leaves of their host plant.
Phyllonorycter propinquinella
cherry blotch miner moth, cherry blotchminer
Phyllonorycter propinquinella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the cherry blotch miner moth. It is a leaf-mining species whose larvae feed on black cherry (Prunus serotina). The species is restricted to northeastern North America, with records from Canada and the eastern United States.
Phyllonorycter quercialbella
Phyllonorycter quercialbella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. The species is restricted to eastern North America, where larvae feed as leaf miners on several oak species. It was first described by Fitch in 1859.
Phyllonorycter rileyella
Phyllonorycter rileyella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Chambers in 1875. The species is known from scattered localities in the eastern and central United States. Its larvae create mines in oak leaves, with confirmed host records from multiple Quercus species. Adults are among the smallest moths in North America, with a wingspan of only 6–8 mm.
Phyllonorycter symphoricarpaeella
A minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 5.5–6 mm. The species is known from scattered localities across the United States. Larvae are specialized miners of Symphoricarpos (snowberry) leaves, creating distinctive tentiform mines on the leaf undersides.
Phyllonorycter tiliacella
Basswood Round-blotch Miner Moth
Phyllonorycter tiliacella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The larvae create distinctive tentiform mines on the upper surfaces of basswood (Tilia) leaves, appearing white with dense dark brown speckling. The species has a bivoltine life cycle with different pupal strategies for summer and winter broods.
Phyllonorycter tritaenianella
A small North American leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species creates distinctive blotch mines on Ostrya species, with larvae developing through a flat blotch stage before the mine becomes tentiform as the leaf folds over. Adults are known from the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Phylloporia bistrigella
Striped Bright
A small moth in the family Incurvariidae with a wingspan of 7–9 mm. Recognizable by two whitish fasciae on the forewings. The larvae are leaf miners on birch species.
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.
Platynota blanchardi
Platynota blanchardi is a small tortricid moth species described in 2012. It is known only from the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona and Texas. The species has a wingspan of 19–20 mm. Like other members of the genus Platynota, it is likely a leafroller caterpillar in its larval stage, though specific host plant associations remain undocumented.
Platynota texana
Platynota texana is a small tortricid moth described in 2012. The species is known only from Texas, United States. The wingspan measures approximately 14 mm. Very little is known about its biology, life history, or host associations.
Plutellidae
diamondback moths
Plutellidae is a family of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as diamondback moths, named after the economically significant pest species Plutella xylostella. The family contains approximately 26 described species in the genus Plutella, with additional genera including Eidophasia, Rhigognostis, and Homadaula. Members are characterized by elongated wings with long fringes, often appearing sickle-shaped, and generally drab coloration with banding or markings. The family has undergone taxonomic revision, with subfamilies Praydinae and Scythropiinae elevated to family status or transferred to other families.
Polyhymno n-sp-three
Polyhymno n-sp-three is an undescribed species within the genus Polyhymno, a group of small gelechiid moths. As a member of this genus, it is expected to be a minute moth with narrow, lanceolate forewings. The species awaits formal description and naming.
Porphyrosela
Porphyrosela is a genus of small leaf-mining moths in the family Gracillariidae, subfamily Lithocolletinae. Species are distributed across multiple continents including the Neotropics, Australia, and Asia. The genus is characterized by larvae that create blotch mines on host plant leaves, primarily in the family Fabaceae. At least 13 species are recognized, with several described from South America and others from Australia and Asia.
Porphyrosela desmodiella
Tentiform Bean Leafminer
Porphyrosela desmodiella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, with a wingspan of 4.5–5 mm. It is widely distributed across the eastern and central United States, southern Canada, and parts of the Caribbean and South America. The larvae are specialized leaf miners on leguminous plants (Fabaceae), creating distinctive mines on host foliage.
Povolnya
Povolnya is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Kuznetzov in 1979. The genus belongs to the tribe Gracillariini within the subfamily Gracillariinae. Species in this genus are leaf-mining moths, with larvae that feed internally on plant tissues. The genus has been recorded from northern Europe, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Prochoreutis inflatella
skullcap skeletonizer moth
A small choreutid moth (wingspan 9–11 mm) found in eastern North America. Adults are active from June through September with multiple generations per year. Larvae are specialist feeders on Scutellaria species, particularly Scutellaria lateriflora, and appear in March shortly after host plant emergence. The species constructs a distinctive fusiform, multi-layered white silk cocoon for pupation.
Proleucoptera
Proleucoptera is a genus of microlepidoptera in the family Lyonetiidae, established by Busck in 1902. Species in this genus are leaf-mining moths with extremely small wingspans, often under 5 mm. The genus is currently treated as a synonym of Leucoptera, though it was historically recognized as distinct. Members are known for mining leaves of host plants, with some species reaching densities sufficient to cause noticeable defoliation.
Proleucoptera smilaciella
A microlepidopteran leaf-mining moth in the family Lyonetiidae. Adults are distinguished from the similar Paraleucoptera albella by wing pattern characteristics including a narrower, more oblique first fascia and smaller silvery-gray spot. The species is larger than P. albella and exhibits converging dark lines toward the wing apex. Specific host plant associations and detailed biology remain poorly documented.
Promalactis
A genus of small moths in the family Oecophoridae, established by Edward Meyrick in 1908. The genus comprises approximately 179 valid species with highest diversity in China (101 species). Members are characterized by distinctive genitalia morphology and metallic head coloration. Larvae have been reported feeding on decaying wood and bark of conifers and other trees.
Pselnophorus belfragei
Belfrage's plume moth
Pselnophorus belfragei is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, native to the southeastern United States. The species is named for Swedish-American naturalist Gustav Wilhelm Belfrage. It is distinguished by its diminutive size and characteristic plume moth wing morphology. The moth is active throughout the year and has a documented association with Dichondra caroliniensis as a larval host plant.
Pseudexentera nr-oreios
Pseudexentera nr-oreios is an undescribed or near-species tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, currently recognized by the provisional designation "nr-oreios" (near oreios). The specific epithet "oreios" refers to a described species in the genus, suggesting this taxon represents a closely related but potentially distinct entity. Members of the genus Pseudexentera are small to medium-sized tortricid moths, many of which are associated with coniferous or deciduous trees. The "nr-" prefix indicates taxonomic uncertainty, commonly used in biodiversity inventories and ecological studies where morphological or genetic distinctions from described species remain unresolved.
Pseudochelaria manzanitae
Pseudochelaria manzanitae is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Keifer in 1930. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from California and Arizona. The specific epithet "manzanitae" suggests a potential association with manzanita (Arctostaphylos) plants, though this relationship remains to be confirmed.
Pseudopostega quadristrigella
Gooseberry Barkminer Moth
Pseudopostega quadristrigella is a small moth in the family Opostegidae, commonly known as the Gooseberry Barkminer Moth. It was first described by Chambers in 1875 (as Opostega quadristrigella) and later transferred to the genus Pseudopostega by Davis in 1989. The species occurs in the central and eastern United States, where adults are active during late spring and summer.
Pseudotelphusa landryi
Pseudotelphusa landryi is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Lee in 2011. The species is known from a limited number of records in eastern North America, specifically Quebec and West Virginia. As a member of the genus Pseudotelphusa, it belongs to a group of small moths commonly known as twirler moths. Very little specific biological information has been published for this recently described species.
Pyraloidea
pyraloid moths, snout moths, Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths
Pyraloidea is a superfamily of small moths containing approximately 16,000 described species worldwide, with many more likely undescribed. Historically treated as part of the paraphyletic Microlepidoptera, the group now comprises two monophyletic families: Pyralidae (snout moths) and Crambidae (grass moths). The superfamily exhibits the most diverse life history adaptations among all Lepidoptera, with larvae occupying roles as leaf rollers, borers, root feeders, seed feeders, leaf miners, and aquatic specialists.
Rhamphura altisierrae
Rhamphura altisierrae is a species of microlepidopteran moth in the family Scythrididae, a group of small moths commonly known as flower moths. The species epithet "altisierrae" suggests an association with high mountain ranges (sierras). As with many Scythrididae, adults are likely small with narrow wings and relatively inconspicuous coloration.
Salebriacus odiosella
Salebriacus odiosella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. First described by George Hulst in 1887, this small moth is part of a genus containing approximately 20 species distributed primarily in North America. The species is documented through scattered collection records and limited iNaturalist observations, indicating it is not well-studied in terms of its biology and ecology.
Schreckensteiniidae
Bristle-legged Moths
Schreckensteiniidae is a small family of microlepidopteran moths commonly known as bristle-legged moths, named for the stout spines on their hindlegs. The family was described by Thomas Bainbrigge Fletcher in 1929 and constitutes the sole family within the superfamily Schreckensteinioidea. Its phylogenetic position within the Apoditrysia remains uncertain. The family includes the blackberry skeletoniser (Schreckensteinia festaliella), a European species introduced to Hawaii for biological control, and species of Corsocasis in Southeast Asia.
Scoparia basalis
Many-spotted Scoparia Moth
Scoparia basalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, commonly known as the many-spotted scoparia moth. The species is characterized by its diminutive size, with a wingspan of approximately 13 mm. It is distributed across much of North America, with records from both the United States and Canada. The specific epithet 'basalis' refers to a basal feature, though the exact morphological reference is not detailed in available sources.
Scrobipalpula sacculicola
A small moth in the family Gelechiidae described by Annette Frances Braun in 1925. The species name 'sacculicola' suggests an association with sac-like structures, possibly indicating a host or habitat relationship. Records remain sparse, with confirmed observations from three U.S. states.
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.
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.
Scythris eboracensis
flower moth
Scythris eboracensis is a minute moth in the family Scythrididae, commonly known as flower moths. The species was described by Zeller in 1855 and occurs in the Canadian prairies. Adults are among the smallest Lepidoptera, with a body length of approximately 4–5 mm. They have been observed resting on and moving among the flowers of composite shrubs, particularly in dry, open habitats. The life history of this species has not been formally documented, though related species in the genus are known to have larvae that feed internally on Asteraceae.
Scythris fuscicomella
flower moth
Scythris fuscicomella is a species of flower moth in the family Scythrididae, described by Clemens in 1860. It is a microlepidopteran with adults typically measuring 4–5 mm in length. The species has been recorded from Manitoba, Canada, and is associated with composite flowers in prairie habitats. Adults are active in late summer and early fall.
Scythris immaculatella
Scythris immaculatella is a minute moth species in the family Scythrididae, first described from North America in 1875. The species belongs to a group commonly known as flower moths, characterized by their extremely small size and association with flowering plants. Records indicate a Holarctic distribution spanning North America and Eurasia. Like many scythridids, its biology remains poorly documented.
Scythris inornatella
Scythris inornatella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Scythrididae, commonly known as flower moths. The species belongs to a poorly studied group with many undescribed taxa. Available records indicate adults are associated with composite flowers (Asteraceae). Like other Scythris species, it is presumed to have small larvae that feed internally on plant tissues, though specific life history details for this species remain undocumented.
Scythris inspersella
Norfolk owlet
Scythris inspersella, commonly known as the Norfolk owlet, is a small moth in the family Scythrididae first described by Jacob Hübner in 1817. It has a Holarctic distribution spanning Asia, Europe, and North America. The species is diurnal and has been observed visiting flowers during its July–August flight period. Its larvae feed gregariously on willowherbs (Onagraceae), spinning together the terminal shoots of their host plants.
Scythris limbella
Chenopodium Scythris Moth
Scythris limbella is a small moth in the family Scythrididae, first described by Fabricius in 1775. It has a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. The species is native to Europe and Asia, with established populations in the northeastern Nearctic region as an introduced species. Adults are active from June to September, with larvae feeding on Chenopodium and Atriplex species.
Scythris mixaula
Scythris mixaula is a minute moth in the family Scythrididae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1916. The species is characterized by its extremely small size (approximately 4-5 mm in length) and association with flowering plants, particularly composites in the Asteraceae family. It belongs to a poorly studied group of microlepidopterans known as "flower moths," many of which remain undescribed or await taxonomic revision. The species has been documented in western North America, including Alberta, Canada.
Scythris trivinctella
banded scythris moth
Scythris trivinctella is a small North American moth in the family Scythrididae, commonly known as the banded scythris moth. It is one of the most frequently observed scythridid species, with nearly 4,000 iNaturalist records. Adults are active across a broad geographic range from New England to southern British Columbia and south to Mexico. The species was described by Zeller in 1873.
Siskiwitia alticolans
A small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1969. Known from a limited number of records in Arizona and Texas. Adults are active in mid-summer and are characterized by distinctive black forewings with a white transverse band.
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.
Stathmopoda aenea
Stathmopoda aenea is a species of moth in the family Stathmopodidae, originally described as Erineda aenea by Braun in 1918. The species epithet 'aenea' refers to a bronze or coppery coloration. Stathmopodidae moths are generally small and often associated with dead plant material or fungi as larvae. This species has been documented through 18 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is encountered infrequently but has a detectable presence in North America.
Stenomatinae
Stenomatine moths
Stenomatinae is a subfamily of small moths in the family Depressariidae, first described by Meyrick in 1906. The subfamily includes diverse genera distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, with notable representation in the Neotropics including the Brazilian Cerrado and Mascarene islands. Members are characterized by their small size and often inconspicuous appearance. Some species have been documented with specialized host plant associations, particularly with woody plants in families such as Malpighiaceae.
Stephensia
Stephensia is a genus of moths in the family Elachistidae, a group of small, often inconspicuous microlepidoptera. The genus name has been used for multiple taxa across kingdoms, including a genus of fungi (Pyronemataceae) and historically as a synonym for a tachinid fly genus (Microsoma), but in entomological contexts refers primarily to the moth genus. The genus contains multiple described species distributed primarily in the Palearctic region.
Stereomita
Stereomita is a genus of microlepidopteran moths in the family Gelechiidae, subfamily Aristoteliinae. The genus contains at least one described species, Stereomita andropogonis, which is distributed across eastern North America. Members are characterized by small size and distinctive wing patterning.
Sterrhini
Sterrhini is a tribe of geometer moths comprising approximately 825 species across 19 genera, with an additional 6 genera and 36 species tentatively associated. The tribe was established by Edward Meyrick in 1892 and represents one of the major lineages within the subfamily Sterrhinae. Members of this tribe are predominantly small to medium-sized moths with relatively broad wings. The genus Idaea is the most species-rich and widely distributed within the tribe.
Stigmella
pygmy leaf-mining moths
Stigmella is a large genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as pygmy leaf-mining moths. Adults typically measure 2–6 mm in wingspan, making them among the smallest Lepidoptera. The genus is characterized by larvae that feed internally in leaf mines of diverse host plants. Many species exhibit narrow host specificity, with individual species restricted to particular plant genera or families. Stigmella contains hundreds of described species distributed across temperate and tropical regions worldwide.
Stigmella altella
Stigmella altella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae, known from Ohio and Maine in the United States. The species has a wingspan of 5.6–6.4 mm. It completes one generation per year in Ohio, with larvae mining oak leaves in autumn and adults emerging the following spring. The larvae are specialized feeders on two oak species: Quercus imbricaria and Quercus palustris.
Stigmella anomalella
rose leaf miner
Stigmella anomalella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the rose leaf miner. Adults are active from May to August with two generations per year. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on various Rosa species and related plants in the Rosaceae family, creating distinctive corridor mines with hairpin turns in host leaves.
Stigmella apicialbella
Stigmella apicialbella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Nepticulidae, first described by Chambers in 1873 and later recombined by Newton et al. in 1982. This species is among the smallest moths, with a wingspan of only 3.6–4.8 mm. It has been documented in the Nearctic region, specifically in Kentucky and Ohio, with additional records from Vermont. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a leaf-mining species, though specific host plant associations for this particular species have not been documented.
Stigmella betulicola
Stigmella betulicola is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae, with a wingspan of 3.4–4.6 mm. It is widely distributed across Europe and extends eastward into the Palearctic realm. The species produces two generations annually, with adults active in May and August. Larvae are specialized miners of birch leaves, feeding on several Betula species. Identification from similar Stigmella species requires examination of genitalia under microscopy.
Stigmella braunella
Catalina Cherry Leaf Miner
Stigmella braunella is a micro-moth in the family Nepticulidae, endemic to California. First described by W.W. Jones in 1933, this species has a wingspan of 5.4–6.6 mm and completes two generations per year. The larvae are leaf miners on Prunus ilicifolia (Catalina cherry), feeding within the leaves of this host plant.
Stigmella caryaefoliella
hickory leafminer
Stigmella caryaefoliella is a pygmy leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae, native to North America. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae feed on hickory (Carya) leaves, creating distinctive serpentine mines. Adults are minute, typically measuring only 2–5 mm in wingspan, with reduced mouthparts. The species was originally described as Nepticula caryaefoliella by Clemens in 1861 and later transferred to Stigmella.
Stigmella castaneaefoliella
Stigmella castaneaefoliella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as pygmy leaf-mining moths. The species is a specialist herbivore on Castanea (chestnut) species, with larvae creating distinctive leaf mines. It was first recorded in New York state in a 2021 study examining insect communities dependent on American chestnut. The species has persisted despite the near-extinction of its primary host, American chestnut, by utilizing non-native chestnut species as alternative hosts.
Stigmella corylifoliella
Stigmella corylifoliella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1861. The species has a wingspan of approximately 3.5 mm and is distributed across much of North America, from the eastern United States to the Pacific coast and southern Canada. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed on a diverse array of host plants.
Stigmella intermedia
pygmy leaf-mining moth
Stigmella intermedia is a minute pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by a wingspan of only 3–3.5 mm. The species is known from the Nearctic region, with records from Ohio, Arkansas, Kentucky, Ontario, and Vermont. It is a specialist leafminer whose larvae feed on sumac species (Rhus typhina and Rhus aromatica), creating distinctive linear mines with broad blackish frass lines. The species typically produces two generations per year, with larvae maturing in July and overwintering, though occasionally a third generation occurs.
Stigmella juglandifoliella
Pecan serpentine leafminer
Stigmella juglandifoliella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the pecan serpentine leafminer. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae create serpentine mines in the leaves of pecan (Carya illinoinensis). It is currently known from a restricted range in the eastern United States.
Stigmella lapponica
Stigmella lapponica is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, described by Maximilian Ferdinand Wocke in 1862 from northern Norway. The species is notable for its leaf-mining larvae that feed exclusively on birch leaves, creating distinctive slender galleries. Adults are active in May with a single generation per year, though partial second broods have been suggested. The moth occurs across the Holarctic region, including Europe, Asia, and North America.
Stigmella longisacca
Stigmella longisacca is a pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae, first described in 1982. It is endemic to California, where its larvae are leaf miners on Juglans species, particularly Juglans californica. The species has a wingspan of 3.2–4.4 mm and appears to have two to three generations per year.
Stigmella microtheriella
Hazel leaf miner moth, Hazel Leafminer Moth
Stigmella microtheriella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae, with a wingspan of only 3–4 mm. The species is native to Europe and Asia, and was introduced to New Zealand from Britain between 1850 and 1860, likely via imported hazel trees. Its larvae create distinctive narrow, angular mines in the leaves of hazel (Corylus species) and hornbeams (Carpinus species). Adults are parthenogenetic and fly in May and August.
Stigmella nigriverticella
Stigmella nigriverticella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by a wingspan of 4.4–5.2 mm. It occurs in the eastern and central United States, with records from Texas, Ohio, New York, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. The species likely produces three generations annually. Specimens have been collected on wild cherry (Prunus), though host plant confirmation remains incomplete.
Stigmella populetorum
Stigmella populetorum is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae, with a wingspan of approximately 5 mm. It occurs across North America from Texas and Ohio to California, with additional records in Ontario and British Columbia. The species completes two to three generations annually, with adults active from late June through September and larval activity observed in mid-June and August.
Stigmella quercipulchella
Stigmella quercipulchella is a pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae. The species is a leaf miner whose larvae feed on oak species (Quercus), creating distinctive tunnels within leaves. It occurs in the eastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada. The species has two generations per year.
Stigmella resplendensella
Stigmella resplendensella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae. It has been recorded from Kentucky in North America. The species has a wingspan of approximately 6 mm. Larvae feed on Celtis occidentalis (common hackberry), creating mines in the leaves.
Stigmella rhoifoliella
Stigmella rhoifoliella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae, native to the eastern United States. The species is notable for its extremely small size and specialized larval feeding behavior on poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). It produces distinctive serpentine leaf mines on its host plant. The moth has a multivoltine life cycle with two to three generations annually, with adult flight periods concentrated in June and August.
Stigmella saginella
Stigmella saginella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as pygmy moths or microlepidoptera. The species is native to North America and has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning the eastern United States, parts of the Midwest, California, and southeastern Canada. Larvae are leaf miners that feed exclusively on oak species (Quercus), creating distinctive tunnels within leaf tissue.
Stigmella sclerostylota
A pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae, Stigmella sclerostylota is a leaf-mining species known from limited records in North America. The species was described in 1982 and has been documented in Arkansas and Ontario. As with other Stigmella species, the larvae feed internally on leaf tissue, creating distinctive mines.
Stigmella slingerlandella
Slingerland's Plum Leafminer Moth, Plum Leaf Miner
Stigmella slingerlandella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the plum leaf miner. The species was described by Kearfott in 1908 and named in honor of Mark Vernon Slingerland. It is a specialist leafminer on Prunus species, with larvae creating distinctive mines that begin as narrow linear tunnels before expanding into irregular blotches. The species occurs in eastern North America, where it can be a minor pest of plum and cherry cultivation.
Stigmella variella
Stigmella variella is a pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by its small size and leaf-mining larval habit. The species is known from California and Arizona, where larvae feed on three oak species. Adults have a wingspan of 5.5–7.5 mm. Two to three generations occur annually in California, with active leaf mines present from July to early September and February to April.
Stigmella villosella
Stigmella villosella is a pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae, first described by Clemens in 1861. It is one of the smallest moth species in North America, with adults measuring only 2.8–4.6 mm in wingspan. The species is known from a limited distribution in the eastern and south-central United States.
Tanygona
Tanygona is a monotypic genus of microlepidopteran moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, containing the single species Tanygona lignicolorella. The genus was established by Braun in 1923. Adults are small with a wingspan of approximately 8 mm.
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.
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.
Theisoa
Theisoa is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Chambers in 1874. It belongs to the subfamily Aristoteliinae, a group of gelechiid moths characterized by relatively narrow wings and often subtle patterning. Species within this genus are part of the diverse microlepidoptera fauna of North America, with records from the northeastern United States including Vermont.
Tinagma gigantea
Tinagma gigantea is a small moth in the family Douglasiidae, described by Braun in 1921. It is known from dry meadow habitats in western North America, with records from Alberta, Canada and Montana, United States. The species is rarely encountered, with only two observations documented in iNaturalist.
Tortricidae
tortrix moths, leafroller moths, tortricid moths
Tortricidae is a large family of small moths with over 11,000 described species, constituting the sole member of the superfamily Tortricoidea. Members are commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths due to the larval behavior of rolling leaves to form shelters. The family includes numerous economically significant agricultural and forestry pests, notably the codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and spruce budworm (Choristoneura species). The typical resting posture features wings folded back, creating a rounded profile.
Trichoptilus pygmaeus
Pygmy Plume Moth
Trichoptilus pygmaeus is a minute plume moth (family Pterophoridae) with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm. It is one of the smallest members of its family in North America. The species exhibits the characteristic divided wings of plume moths, with forewings split into two lobes. Larvae feed on specific host plants including Chrysopsis scabrella and Arctostaphylos columbiana, consuming young leaves and bracts of unopened flowers.
Tsinilla lineana
Tsinilla lineana is a species of tortricid moth described by Fernald in 1901. It belongs to the subfamily Olethreutinae, a group of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The genus Tsinilla is a small, poorly documented group within the diverse Tortricidae family. Based on iNaturalist records, this species has been observed only a handful of times, indicating it is either genuinely rare, cryptic, or underreported.
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.
Walshia
Walshia is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, established by Clemens in 1864. The genus contains at least 12 described species distributed in North America. At least one species, W. amorphella, is known to induce galls on its host plant, creating complex ecological microcommunities. Most species remain poorly studied beyond basic taxonomic descriptions.
Walshia amorphella
Walshia amorphella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1864. It is a gall-forming species that induces galls on the host plant Amorpha fruticosa. The species is known from the central United States, with records from Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Kansas, and Texas. Its gall-forming habit supports an associated microcommunity of other organisms.
Walshia floridensis
Walshia floridensis is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1978. It is endemic to Florida, with adults active during the winter months. The species is notable for its specific association with the legume Petalostemon pinnatum as a larval host plant.
Zelleria
Zelleria is a genus of micro-moths in the family Yponomeutidae, comprising approximately 60 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. The genus was established by Stainton in 1849. Species vary in host plant associations, with some specializing on ash (Fraxinus), pine (Pinus), or other woody plants. Larval habits include leaf mining and needle-sheath mining in conifers.
Zelleria ochroplagiata
Zelleria ochroplagiata is a small moth species in the family Yponomeutidae (ermine moths), described by Braun in 1918. The genus Zelleria comprises numerous small, often poorly known species, many of which are associated with specific host plants. This species is known from a limited number of observations and collections, primarily in North America. Like other Yponomeutidae, it likely has a concealed larval stage and adult moths with characteristic narrow wings.
Zimmermannia
Zimmermannia is a genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, established by Hering in 1940. The genus is distributed in the Western Palaearctic region and contains nine recognized species. Species are characterized by leaf-mining and bark-mining larval habits. The genus was historically treated as a subgenus of Ectoedemia but is now recognized as distinct.
Zimmermannia obrutella
Zimmermannia obrutella is a species of microlepidopteran moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as pygmy moths or midget moths. Originally described as Trifurcula obrutella by Zeller in 1873, it was later transferred to the genus Zimmermannia. Like other nepticulids, it is extremely small with adults typically measuring only a few millimeters in wingspan. The genus Zimmermannia contains leaf-mining species whose larvae feed internally within plant tissues.