Family Choreutidae - Metalmark Moths

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Print References · Internet References · 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 Choreutoidea (Metalmark Moths)

Family Choreutidae (Metalmark Moths)

Other Common Names

Metalmark Moths

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Choreutidae Stainton, 1854

Explanation of Names

Choreutidae from type genus Choreutis (Hübner), from Greek meaning "dancer." (1)

Numbers

32 species in 9 genera in 2 subfamilies in North America

8 genera belong to the subfamily Choreutinae; the other subfamily (Millieriinae) is represented by a single North American species, Phormoestes palmettovora, which occurs in Florida and was described by Heppner in 1982

Size

very small: wingspan less than 10 mm.

Identification

wings broad and square-tipped (giving a chunky appearance), and often containing reflective "metallic" spots or patches - hence the common name of Metalmark Moths

Print References

Borror and White 1998. A Field Guide to Insects(2)

Internet References

Predator Mimicry: Metalmark Moths Mimic Their Jumping Spider Predators

Moths Elude Spiders by Mimicking Them - John Roach, for National Geographic News

Works Cited

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

2.	A Field Guide to Insects Richard E. White, Donald J. Borror, Roger Tory Peterson. 1998. Houghton Mifflin Co.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 13 January, 2005 - 5:34pm
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban, Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, Maury Heiman, Randy Hardy
Last updated 19 July, 2014 - 6:40pm

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