Enlightenment moths

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Enlightenment moths
Heliozela sp.

Heliozela sp.

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Subordination : Glossata
Superfamily : Incurvarioidea
Family : Enlightenment moths
Scientific name
Heliozelidae
Heinemann & Wocke , 1877

The moths (Heliozelidae) are a family of butterflies (Lepidoptera). They occur worldwide, except in New Zealand , with about 100 species .

features

The moths reach wingspans of only five to nine millimeters. They have elongated bodies and narrow fore wings that are more than three times as long as they are wide. They are predominantly metallic (mostly greyish bronze or dark copper) shiny. The hind wings are also narrow and elongated and have long fringes. The thread-like antennae reach about 60 to 70% of the forewing length. The moths have no point eyes ( ocelli ). Their five-membered maxillary palps are strongly regressed, their proboscis are well developed and scaled at the base.

The fore wing loading varies from poorly to well developed. You have nine wing veins with one anal vein (1b). The hind wings have a receding wing veining, consisting of seven to nine veins with one or two anal veins (1b or 1b and 1c).

Way of life

The moths are diurnal.

The caterpillars live as miners either only in leaves or eat their way from the inside of branches to a leaf. For pupation, cut out an oval piece of a leaf and spin the edges so that they can pupate in it. Before doing this, however, they let the plant drop onto the ground.

Systematics

There are eight species of the moth family in Europe . Seven species occur in German-speaking countries.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Heliozelidae in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved February 25, 2011
  2. ↑ Heliozelidae. Lepiforum eV, accessed on December 28, 2006 .

Web links