Subfamily Argyresthiinae - Shiny Head-Standing Moths

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Food · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

No Taxon (Moths)

Superfamily Yponomeutoidea

Family Yponomeutidae (Ermine Moths)

Subfamily Argyresthiinae (Shiny Head-Standing Moths)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

All-Leps and others consider Argyresthiinae to be a subfamily. Others consider it to be a family.

Explanation of Names

argyr is Greek for silver (1)

Numbers

All 52 spp in the family, north of Mexico, are in the genus Argyresthia per Arnett (1985) (2)

Food

Larvae are miners of woody plants, mainly conifers, although a few angiosperms also are recorded, e.g., apple, Malus (Rosaceae). Larvae of some argyresthiid species occur in large enough numbers that they are considered pests.

Print References

Busck, A. 1907. Revision of the American moths of the genus Argyresthia. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 32: 5-24.

Internet References

Family Argyresthiidae - Microleps.org

Images of Genus Argyresthia - All-Leps

Argyresthiidae - MPG

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms By Donald J. Borror

2.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

Contributed by Anita Gould on 17 February, 2006 - 12:31pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Last updated 6 February, 2009 - 2:39pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version