Shield-bearer-moth
Guides
Antispila aurirubra
Antispila aurirubra is a small North American moth in the family Heliozelidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1915. It is endemic to California and is associated with Cornus (dogwood) species as larval hosts. The species exhibits distinctive metallic coloration on the thorax and forewings.
Antispila cf-isabella
Antispila cf-isabella is a provisional species designation within the genus Antispila, a group of leaf-mining moths in the family Heliozelidae. The 'cf.' (confer) notation indicates morphological similarity to A. isabella without confirmed species identity. Antispila moths are commonly known as shield-bearer moths due to the oval cutouts their larvae make in leaves for pupation. Species in this genus are specialized herbivores with larvae that create distinctive mines in the leaves of specific host plants.
Antispila cornifoliella
Antispila cornifoliella is a North American moth in the family Heliozelidae, commonly known as shield-bearer moths. The species is a leaf-miner specialist on Cornus (dogwood) species, with larvae creating distinctive mines in leaves during late summer and early autumn. It is native to eastern and central North America, with records from the United States and Canada.
Aspilanta
Aspilanta is a genus of minute leaf-mining moths in the family Heliozelidae, erected in 2020 to accommodate North American species previously assigned to Antispila. Adults are distinguished by reduced wing venation and small size (wingspan 4.0–6.2 mm). Larvae feed internally in leaves of woody plants, primarily Vitaceae (grape family), with two species known from Hydrangeaceae and Myricaceae. The genus name is a partial anagram of Antispila.
Aspilanta hydrangaeella
Aspilanta hydrangaeella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Heliozelidae, recently transferred from Antispila to the new genus Aspilanta based on phylogenetic evidence. Adults have a wingspan of 5.0–5.8 mm and are distinguished from congeners by white-tipped antennae. The larvae are specialized leaf miners of hydrangea plants, cutting out a shield-shaped pupal case from the leaf before emergence. The species occurs in the eastern United States.
Aspilanta oinophylla
Aspilanta oinophylla is a minute leafmining moth in the family Heliozelidae, native to eastern North America and introduced to Italy where it has become a pest of commercial vineyards. It is the type species of the genus Aspilanta, erected in 2020 for Nearctic heliozelids with reduced wing venation previously placed in Antispila. The larvae feed as leaf miners on Vitaceae, particularly grapevines, and cut characteristic shield-shaped pupal cases from their host leaves.