Family Oecophoridae - Concealer Moths

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Food · Works Cited

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Gelechioidea (Twirler Moths and kin)

Family Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)

Other Common Names

Oecophorid Moths

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

several genera formerly included in Oecophoridae were transferred to family Elachistidae by Hodges in Kristensen (1999).

Explanation of Names

Larvae usually feed concealed in webs or in rolled or tied leaves of food plant

Numbers

37 species in 20 genera in our area (1).

Size

wingspan 3-30 mm (usually closer to 30 mm)

Identification

"The vast majority of oecophorids can be recognized by the shape of the male gnathos, which is fused to the tegumen without articulation" (2). This is a feature shared by Stathmopodidae. "However, there are exceptions, such as Deuterogonia [not present in NA], that lack the gnathos entirely" (2).

Food

"Most oecophorids consume dead plants or fungi, but some feed on live plants, notably the most basally arising branch containing Pleurota and its allies" (2).

Works Cited

1.	Annotated taxonomic checklist of the Lepidoptera of North America, North of Mexico Pohl, G.R., Patterson, B., & Pelham, J.P. 2016. ResearchGate.net.

2.	Morphology reinforces proposed molecular phylogenetic affinities: a revised classification for Gelechioidea (Lepidoptera) Heikkilä, M., Mutanen, M., Kekkonen, M. and Kaila, L. 2014. Cladistics 30: 563–589.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Maury Heiman, Kyhl Austin
Last updated 7 January, 2017 - 7:44pm

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