Subfamily Blastobasinae - Scavenger Moths

formerly considered a separate family (Blastobasidae); treated as a subfamily of Coleophoridae by Hodges in Kristensen, 1999

68 species in 8 genera in 2 tribes in North America

wingspan 12-23 mm

Adults of this family have a transverse row of small spines at the posterior margin of each segment on the dorsum of the abdomen.

General note regarding curation of this family on BugGuide

I (ASH) am currently sorting through this family on BugGuide based primarily on comparison to DNA barcoded specimens on BOLD. Many BINs on BOLD are not associated with species names; some include specimens identified to multiple undescribed species or even multiple genera; and some very likely include multiple undescribed species based on a high degree of within-BIN genetic divergence. Some species names are associated with specimens in two or more BINs, usually all closely related to each other; these I have generally treated as species complexes.

This family desperately needs modern taxonomic revision. Until a revision is published, most generic assignments should be considered provisional. Except in cases in which the holotype has been barcoded, all species assignments should likewise be treated as provisional.

cosmopolitan

larvae are mostly scavengers (hence the common name, Scavenger Moths), feeding on fallen fruits & seeds, dry detritus, decaying wood, and stored food products; some feed in acorns, others are phytophagous (plant-feeding)

key to genera (1)

Scoble, M.J. 1992. The Lepidoptera. The Natural History Museum

family description plus illustration of wing venation, and other info (L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz, British Insects: the Families of Lepidoptera)

common name reference [Scavenger Moths] (Tree of Life, tolweb.org)

Images and Info at Microleps.org