Shield-bearer
Guides
Antispila
shield-bearer moths
Antispila is a genus of leaf-mining moths in the family Heliozelidae, established by Jacob Hübner in 1825. The genus comprises approximately 50 described species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Larvae feed internally on leaves of host plants, creating distinctive serpentine or blotch mines that terminate in oval cutouts ('shields') used for pupation. Several species are economically significant as pests of grapevines, dogwoods, and ornamental shrubs. Taxonomic revisions using DNA barcoding have resolved longstanding species complexes, particularly among Cornus-feeding species in Europe.
Aspilanta viticordifoliella
Aspilanta viticordifoliella is a small leafmining moth in the family Heliozelidae, originally described as Antispila viticordifoliella by Clemens in 1860 and transferred to the new genus Aspilanta in 2020 based on phylogenetic analysis. The species is characterized by reduced wing venation and distinctive silvery forewing markings without an apical spot. Its larvae are specialized leaf miners on Vitaceae host plants.
Coptodisca
Coptodisca is a genus of small moths in the family Heliozelidae, established by Walsingham in 1895. Species are leafminers whose larvae feed internally on leaves of woody plants, creating distinctive blotch mines. Several species have become invasive pests in Europe, particularly C. lucifluella and C. juglandiella on walnut (Juglans) and related trees. The genus is native to the Nearctic region with approximately 20 described species.