Small-moth
Guides
Abrenthia
Abrenthia is a monotypic genus of sedge moths in the family Glyphipterigidae, described by August Busck in 1915. The sole species, Abrenthia cuprea, is a small North American moth with a wingspan of 9–12 mm. Adults are active in mid-to-late June, with likely a single generation per year.
Acleris cervinana
Acleris cervinana is a small tortricid moth native to North America, with a wingspan of 15–17 mm. Adults are active nearly year-round across a broad geographic range. The larvae feed on specific woody plants including yellow birch, hazel, and alder species.
Acleris ptychogrammos
A small tortricid moth with a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. Adults have been recorded on wing nearly year-round in southern parts of its range. The larval host plant is red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea).
Acleris santacrucis
Acleris santacrucis is a small tortricid moth described by Obraztsov in 1963. It is known only from California in western North America. The species has a wingspan of approximately 14 mm. Adults are active from June through August and again in October.
Acrolophus heppneri
Heppner's Grass Tubeworm Moth
Acrolophus heppneri is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Donald R. Davis in 1990. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. It belongs to a genus commonly known as "grass tubeworm moths" due to larval behavior. Adult wingspan measures approximately 17 mm.
Acronicta heitzmani
Heitzman's Dagger, Heitzman's dagger moth
Acronicta heitzmani is a species of dagger moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Charles V. Covell and Eric H. Metzler in 1992. The species is endemic to the central United States, with documented occurrence in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, and Ohio. It is a relatively small noctuid moth with forewing lengths of 12–14.5 mm in males and 12.5–15 mm in females. Like other members of the genus Acronicta, it is a nocturnal species attracted to artificial light sources.
Adaina thomae
St. Thomas Island Plume
Adaina thomae is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, characterized by its small size with a wingspan of approximately 13 mm. The species has a broad neotropical distribution spanning from the southern United States through the Caribbean and into South America. Adults have been recorded in multiple months throughout the year, suggesting extended or year-round flight activity in suitable climates. The specific epithet and common name reference Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, one of the localities where this species occurs.
Aethes angustana
Aethes angustana is a small tortricid moth first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. It occurs in northeastern North America, with documented records from Massachusetts, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Adults have a wingspan of 15–17 mm. The species belongs to the genus Aethes, a group of small moths within the subfamily Tortricinae.
Aethes baloghi
A small tortricid moth of North American prairies. Adults are active from spring through late summer, with forewings measuring 4–6.8 mm. The species was described in 2002 and named for entomologist George J. Balogh.
Aethes biscana
Reddish Aethes
Aethes biscana, commonly known as the reddish aethes, is a small tortricid moth native to North America. It is characterized by light brown forewings with darker markings and shining grey hindwings. The species exhibits broad geographic distribution across eastern and central North America, with adult activity spanning most of the year depending on location.
Aethes floccosana
A small tortricid moth native to the eastern and central United States. First described in 1863, this species is characterized by its compact size and relatively restricted geographic range. Adults are active during late spring and early summer. The species has been documented across seven states but remains poorly studied regarding its biology and ecology.
Aethes rana
A small tortricid moth described by August Busck in 1907. Adults have a wingspan of 16–18 mm and are active from July to September in the eastern and midwestern United States. The species is characterized by distinctive forewing coloration: a whitish ocherous base strongly suffused with dark fuscous and marked with blackish-brown patterns.
Aethes rutilana
pale juniper webworm
Aethes rutilana, commonly known as the pale juniper webworm, is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1817 and is distributed across Europe and North America. The species is notable for its larval association with common juniper (Juniperus communis).
Aethes sonorae
streaked aethes moth
Aethes sonorae is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of approximately 13 mm. The species was described by Walsingham in 1884 from Sonora, Mexico, and has since been recorded from the southern United States. It belongs to the genus Aethes, a diverse group of small moths commonly known as the aethes moths.
Aethes terriae
Aethes terriae is a small tortricid moth described in 2002. It is known from only three US states in the Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic regions. The species name honors Terri Balogh.
Aethiophysa invisalis
Invisible Crambid
Aethiophysa invisalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, commonly known as the Invisible Crambid. It was first described by French entomologist Achille Guenée in 1854. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas, with records from eastern North America through Central America to South America. Despite its common name, it is not particularly cryptic; the name likely refers to its small size and inconspicuous appearance among vegetation.
Afrida ydatodes
Dyar's Lichen Moth
Afrida ydatodes, commonly known as Dyar's lichen moth, is a small moth species in the family Nolidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1913. The species is found in the southeastern United States, with records from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 10 mm and can be distinguished from the similar Afrida cosmiogramma by their diffused, irrorated wing pattern with clouded central band edges.
Agdistis americana
Sea-heath Plume Moth
Agdistis americana is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, first described by Barnes and Lindsey in 1921. It is known from western North America, particularly California. The species has a wingspan of approximately 24 mm. As a member of the genus Agdistis, it belongs to a group of moths commonly associated with coastal and salt marsh habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Aglossa disciferalis
Pink-masked Pyralid Moth
Aglossa disciferalis is a small snout moth species described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1908. It is commonly known as the Pink-masked Pyralid Moth and occurs in North America. The species has a wingspan of approximately 18 mm. It is placed in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Pyralinae.
Agnippe laudatella
Agnippe laudatella is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of approximately 10.5 mm, endemic to California. The species is characterized by distinctive white forewings with complex brownish fuscous patterning. Larvae feed on Quercus (oak) species.
Agonopterix argillacea
Clay-colored Agonopterix Moth
Agonopterix argillacea is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Walsingham in 1881. It is known from a broad range across North America, from the Pacific coast through the Great Plains to the Atlantic provinces and southeastern United States. The species has been documented from 915 iNaturalist observations.
Agonopterix cajonensis
Agonopterix cajonensis is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by John Frederick Gates Clarke in 1941. It is known only from California in western North America. Adults have distinctive forewing patterning with grayish fuscous ground color overlaid with ocherous-white markings.
Anacampsis tristrigella
A small gelechiid moth with distinctive wing patterning described by Walsingham in 1882. The species is recognized by its greyish-fuscous forewings with greenish iridescence, steel-grey costal streak, and characteristic white markings including a transverse fascia and three to four apical tooth-like streaks. Larvae are known to feed on American hazelnut (Corylus americana).
Ancylis divisana
Two-toned Ancylis Moth
Ancylis divisana, the two-toned ancylis moth, is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. It is broadly distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from 21 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Adults are active from March through October, and larvae feed on several hardwood tree species including oaks, chestnut, hornbeam, and sycamore.
Ancylis platanana
Sycamore Leaffolder Moth
Ancylis platanana, commonly known as the Sycamore Leaffolder Moth, is a small tortricid moth native to the eastern United States. Adults have a wingspan of 11–15 mm. The species is associated with sycamore trees (Platanus), as indicated by its specific epithet and common name. First described by Clemens in 1860, it remains relatively understudied.
Anopina arizonana
Anopina arizonana is a small tortricid moth first described by Lord Walsingham in 1884. It has a wingspan of approximately 16 mm. The species is native to western North America, with a range extending from southern interior British Columbia and Alberta south to Arizona.
Anopina eleonora
Anopina eleonora is a small tortricid moth described by Obraztsov in 1962. It occurs in the southwestern United States across four states. The species is characterized by forewings measuring 7–8 mm in length. Like other members of the genus Anopina, it belongs to the tribe Cochylini within the subfamily Tortricinae.
Antaeotricha haesitans
Antaeotricha haesitans is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, first described by Lord Walsingham in 1912. The species is characterized by a wingspan of approximately 12 mm and distinctive fawn-ochreous forewings with brown patterning. Its distribution spans parts of Mexico and the southern United States.
Apantesis obliterata
Steppe Tiger Moth
Apantesis obliterata is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, originally described from North America in 1885. It exhibits a transcontinental distribution spanning northern Eurasia and North America, with populations in Russia, Mongolia, and the Canadian prairie provinces. The species inhabits grassland ecosystems and is active in late summer and early autumn. It was transferred from the genus Grammia to Apantesis as part of a broader taxonomic reorganization of tiger moths.
Aphelia gregalis
Aphelia gregalis is a small tortricid moth described by Razowski in 1981. The species is known from Alaska, representing a northern distribution within the genus Aphelia. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 21 mm. As a member of the tribe Archipini, it belongs to a diverse group of leafroller moths, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Aproaerema nigrella
Aproaerema nigrella is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, commonly known as twirler moths. The species was described by Chambers in 1875. Like other members of this large family, it is a microlepidopteran—typically measuring less than ten millimeters in length. The genus Aproaerema belongs to the subfamily Anacampsinae, which contains numerous small species with poorly documented biology.
Argyrostrotis erasa
Erasa Chocolate Moth
Argyrostrotis erasa is a small moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Guenée in 1852. It occurs in the southeastern United States, ranging from North Carolina southward through Florida and west to Texas. The species is commonly known as the Erasa Chocolate Moth. The wingspan measures approximately 30 mm.
Argyrostrotis sylvarum
Woodland Chocolate Moth, Brown Wavy Line Argyrostrotis
A small nocturnal moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It occurs in woodland habitats of the southeastern United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 28 mm. It is known by two common names reflecting its coloration and habitat association.
Aroga websteri
Aroga websteri is a small gelechiid moth described by Clarke in 1942. The species is known from a limited geographic range in western North America, with records from Washington state. Its wingspan measures 14–16 mm. The specific epithet honors Dr. R. L. Webster, former head of the Department of Zoology at Washington State College.
Arogalea
Arogalea is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, first described by Walsingham in 1910. The genus contains seven recognized species distributed primarily in North America. These moths are typically encountered at light traps during nocturnal surveys. Arogalea cristifasciella, one of the better-known species, has been documented from Vermont and Kansas.
Arta olivalis
Olive Arta Moth
Arta olivalis, commonly known as the olive arta moth, is a small snout moth species described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878. It belongs to the family Pyralidae and is known from the southern United States. The species is characterized by its relatively small size, with a wingspan of approximately 14 mm.
Asaphocrita aphidiella-complex
Asaphocrita aphidiella-complex is a species complex within the family Blastobasidae, a group of small moths often associated with stored products and plant materials. Species in this complex are morphologically similar and have been historically confused, requiring detailed examination for accurate identification. They are part of a genus known for diverse larval habits including predation, parasitism, and detritivory. The complex designation indicates ongoing taxonomic uncertainty regarding species boundaries.
Bactra lancealana
Black-blotched Bactra Moth
Bactra lancealana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 11–20 mm, distributed across Europe. Adults are active from May to October. Larvae feed primarily on rushes in the genera Juncus and Scirpus. The species is morphologically similar to Bactra furfurana, requiring careful examination for identification.
Baileya ophthalmica
Eyed Baileya Moth, eyed baileya
Baileya ophthalmica, commonly known as the eyed baileya, is a nolid moth in the family Nolidae. The species was described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found across North America, with records from the United States and Canada. The MONA (Moth Photographers Group) or Hodges number for this species is 8970.
Barberia
Barberia is a genus of snout moths (family Pyralidae) described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1905. The genus contains at least one described species, Barberia affinitella. These small moths are found in the southern United States.
Battaristis pasadenae
Battaristis pasadenae is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by Keifer in 1935. It is known from California in western North America. The species has a wingspan of approximately 11–12 mm and exhibits distinctive wing patterning with white markings on a fuscous background. Very few observations of this species have been recorded.
Brenthia pavonacella
peacock brenthia moth
A small metalmark moth in the family Choreutidae, measuring approximately 9 mm in wingspan. The species exhibits at least two generations annually in Illinois, with larval activity documented from early July to early September. Known for its distinctive wing patterns that have been proposed to function in predator mimicry, deterring jumping spider attacks.
Bryolymnia viridata
Bryolymnia viridata is a small noctuid moth endemic to western California, ranging from Sonoma County to San Diego County. First described by Leon F. Harvey in 1876, it has a wingspan of approximately 27 mm. Adults are active from late May through mid-October. The species is placed in the tribe Elaphriini within the subfamily Noctuinae.
Bryotropha hodgesi
Bryotropha hodgesi is a small gelechiid moth described in 2004. It is known from the western coast of North America, ranging from the United States into extreme southern Canada. The species was named in honor of R.W. Hodges.
Bucculatrix simulans
Bucculatrix simulans is a small ribbed cocoon-making moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963. It occurs in central North America from Texas northward to Iowa and east to Ohio. Adults are active primarily from January through July, with a wingspan of 9.5–10 mm. The larvae are known to feed on Helianthus (sunflower) species and create distinctive stem galls.
Bucculatrix staintonella
Bucculatrix staintonella is a small North American moth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1878. The species has a wingspan of 6.5–9 mm and is known from scattered records across the central and eastern United States. Adults are active during multiple periods throughout the year, with flight records spanning January and March through April, June through July, and September through October. The larvae feed on Populus species.
Calosima albapenella
Calosima albapenella is a small moth in the family Blastobasidae, recorded from Texas and Florida in the United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 19 mm or less. Its larvae are associated with dry, beetle-infested citrus fruit, specifically oranges damaged by Arseocerus fasciculatus.
Capperia raptor
Pineywoods Geranium Plume Moth
Capperia raptor is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, first described by Edward Meyrick in 1908. It is a small moth with a wingspan of approximately 19 mm, characterized by divided wings typical of the family. The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States including Colorado and Indiana.
Chabula acamasalis
Chabula acamasalis is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 20 mm. It occurs across a broad geographic range spanning South Asia, East Asia, and Australia. The species is characterized by dark brown forewings marked with contrasting white patches. First described by Francis Walker in 1859 from a specimen originally placed in the genus Zebronia.
Chionodes abdominella
Chionodes abdominella is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of 9–10 mm, found in the southwestern United States. The species is characterized by distinctive black and white forewing patterning with triangular costal markings. It has been recorded from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Nevada.