Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Xyloryctidae
Meyrick, 1890
(1)
listed as Scythrididae by some sources (e.g.
Butterflies and Moths of the World)
Scythrididae was designated as a subfamily, Scythridinae, of Xylorictidae by Hodges (1999). A generic revision of Nearctic Scythrididae was published by Landry (1991). -
Microleps.org
sometimes listed as a subfamily of
Oecophoridae (
Australian Xyloryctidae)
Explanation of Names
Appears to be from Greek,
xylon, wood, plus Greek
oriktes, a digger
(2). Some caterpillars of this family (apparently subfamily Xyloryctinae, not found in North America) are wood borers (
Australian Xyloryctidae). This is the same derivation as that of a scarab beetle,
Xyloryctes.
Numbers
43 species in 6 genera in North America listed at
All-Leps--all North American species in this family belong to the subfamily Scythridinae
worldwide, over 1,200 species in 86 genera (Mississippi Entomological Museum--
Xyloryctidae Overview)
Identification
Adult scythridids are small brown moths; some species are so dark as to appear black or blackish to the unaided eye, and some species have one or more whitish patches on the forewing. -
Microleps.orgHabitat
Some scythridids appear to be associated with sandy areas. -
Microleps.orgFood
In Illinois, scythridids show an affinity for nectaring during the day on flowers of yarrow, Achillea millefolium (Asteraceae) when it is in bloom. -
Microleps.orgLife Cycle
Larvae of the relatively few scythridid species for which life histories are known show a preference for feeding (usually internally, e.g., as leaf miners) on composites (Asteraceae). -
Microleps.orgRemarks
Adult scythridids are diurnal and seldom are attracted to light. -
Microleps.orgPrint References
Gordh and Headrick, entry for Xyloryctidae
(1)
Hodges, R.W. 1999. The Gelechioidea. Pp. 131-158 in Kristensen, N.P. (editor). Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies 1. Handbuch der Zoologie IV/35. de Gruyter, Berlin.
Landry, J.-F. 1991. Systematics of Nearctic Scythrididae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea): phylogeny and classification of supraspecific taxa, with a review of described species. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 160: 1-341.
The Century Dictionary--entry for
Xyloryctes (2)
Internet References
Family Scythrididae - www.microleps.org - Primary source for life history info above
common name reference (John Heppner, Association for Tropical Lepidoptera)
