Microlepidoptera
Guides
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.