Nepticulidae , often named pygmy leafmining moths or just pygmies, contain some of the smallest moths, and even the largest have a wingspan of less than 1 cm. Larvae are usually leafminers on trees or shrubs, with an interesting life history and tight connection to the hostplant. Opostegidae or white eyecap moths are closely related, often a little bit larger, and frequently white with or without darker bands and patches. Larvae rarely make leafmines, they probably feed more often in the cambium layer of tr
This website aims to be the place for authoritative information on the Taxonomy and Biology of these primitive leaf- and stem-mining moths. From October 31st, 2016 the site contains the newest classification, based on the Molecular Phylogeny ( Doorenweerd et al., 2016 ) and Catalogue ( van Nieukerken et al. 2016 ). This classification contains all described species and synonyms. Currently we recognise 884 extant and 18 fossil species of Nepticulidae and 192 valid Opostegidae species. The site is being built
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