Silken-tubes
Guides
Diadocidiidae
A small family of fungus gnats (Diptera) containing two genera: the extant Diadocidia with over 20 species and the extinct †Docidiadia from Burmese amber. Adults are minute woodland flies measuring 2.5–5.6 mm. The family was historically treated as a subfamily of Mycetophilidae but is now recognized as distinct and closely related to Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae, and Ditomyiidae.
Faculta
Palo Verde Webworm (F. inaequalis)
Faculta is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Busck in 1939. The genus contains three described species: F. inaequalis, F. synthetica, and F. triangulella. F. inaequalis, commonly known as the Palo Verde Webworm, is the best-known species due to its conspicuous larval behavior of spinning silken tubes on host trees. The genus is restricted to arid regions of the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico.
Faculta inaequalis
Palo Verde webworm
Faculta inaequalis is a small gelechiid moth commonly known as the Palo Verde webworm. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where its larvae construct conspicuous silken tubes on Palo Verde trees. Despite being abundant and easily observed, many aspects of its biology remain poorly documented. The moth poses no significant economic threat to its host plants.