Myricaceae
Guides
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.
Neochlamisus comptoniae
warty leaf beetle
Neochlamisus comptoniae is a small warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. Like other members of the tribe Chlamisini, adults exhibit remarkable fecal mimicry—resembling caterpillar frass in size, shape, texture, and coloration. When disturbed, they retract their head and fold legs and antennae into precise grooves, eliminating any indication of being an insect. The species is associated with sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina), a plant in the family Myricaceae.