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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Twirler Moths and kin (Gelechioidea) » Twirler Moths (Gelechiidae)

Family Gelechiidae - Twirler Moths

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

Leaf miner caterpillar, lamb's quarter - Chrysoesthia sexguttella

Dead pupa - Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis

Gelechiidae, on Monarda, pupa - Chionodes fondella

Gelechiidae, Palmerworm Moth on Gooseberry, dorsal - Dichomeris ligulella

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

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 Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Other Common Names

Gelechiid Moths

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Gelechiidae Stainton, 1854 (1), (2).

BugGuide follows the higher taxonomy proposed by Karsholt et al. (2013) (3)

Explanation of Names

Gelechiidae from the type genus Gelechia (Hübner), from Greek meaning "resting on the ground." (4)

The common name of "twirler" comes from their habit of spinning in circles on leaf surfaces.(5)

Numbers

886 species and 92 genera in 6 subfamilies in NA, >4,600 described spp. in ca. 500 genera worldwide. (6)

Size

Wingspan 7-25 mm (most species in 10-20 mm range).

Identification

Adult - FW narrowly rounded or pointed at apex; HW of most species trapezoidal, drawn out to point at apex (outer margin concave below apex); long labial palps (3 segments), upcurved, with third segment long and tapering; hind tibia covered with long hair-scales above; filiform antennae (male & female); tibial spur pattern invariably 0-2-4.

Below is a guide to the local subfamilies of Gelechiidae. The images included are meant to be illustrative of the general appearance of each subfamily as an aid for narrowing down possibilities for identification. While the commonest elements of forewing maculation in each subfamily are represented, many patterns are not.

Anacampsinae

Anomologinae

Apatetrinae

Dichomeridinae

Gelechiinae

Thiotrichinae

Food

Larval habits vary widely: includes leaf miners, leaf folders and tiers, gall makers, and fruit & seed feeders.

Remarks

Many species are serious pests of crops and stored grain products.

Print References

Busck, A., 1903. A revision of the American moths of the family Gelechiidae: with descriptions of the new species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 25: 767-930, pl. 28-32. (7)

Hodges, R. W. 1966. Revision of the Nearctic Gelechiidae, I. The Lita Group (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea). Proceedings of The United States National Museum, 119 (3547): 1-66; pl. 31. (8)

Stainton, H.T. 1854. Insecta Britannica (Lepidoptera: Tineina): 75 (Gelechidae)

Lee et al. 2009. (6)

Internet References

Thorough list Gelechiidae references by Sangmi Lee at Mississippi State University here

Works Cited

1.	Revision of Holarctic Teleiodini (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Sangmi Lee & Richard L. Brown (2008). 2008. Zootaxa 1818: 1–55 .

2.	A catalogue of the family-group and genus-group names of the Gelechiidae, Holcopogonidae, Lecithoceridae and Symmocidae Klaus Sattler. 1973. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 28(4): 153-182.

3.	A molecular analysis of the Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea) with an interpretative grouping of its taxa Karsholt, O., M. Mutanen, S. Lee, & L. Kaila. 2013. Systematic Entomology. 38 (2):334–348.

4.	An accentuated list of the British Lepidoptera, with hints on the derivation of the names. Anonymous. 1858. The Entomological Societies of Oxford and Cambridge.

5.	Hidden Company that Trees Keep: Life from Treetops to Root Tips James B. Nardi. 2023. Princeton University Press.

6.	Checklist of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) in America North of Mexico Lee S., Hodges R.W., Brown R.L. 2009. Zootaxa 2231: 1–39.

7.	A revision of the American moths of the family Gelechiidae, with descriptions of new species August Busck. 1903. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 25: 767-938.

8.	Revision of Nearctic Gelechiidae. 1. The Lita group (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) R. W. . Hodges. 1966. Proceedings of The United States National Museum 119: 1-66.

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 8 October, 2004 - 9:58pm
Additional contributions by Steve Nanz, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Chuck Entz, Maury Heiman, Robert Lord Zimlich, v belov, Randy Hardy, Marci Hess, Kyhl Austin, Blocky
Last updated 23 September, 2023 - 10:25am

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