Ermine Moths (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

Ermine moths, family Yponomeutidae, total 395 species worldwide; actual fauna likely exceeds 500 species. Three subfamilies are recognized: Saridoscelinae, Yponomeutinae, and Cedestinae. The family is part of the superfamily Yponomeutoidea in the section Tineina, subsection Tineina, of the division Ditrysia. Adults small to medium size (8 to 31 mm wingspan), with head mostly smooth-scaled; haustellum naked; labial palpi upcurved; maxillary palpi 1 to 2-segmented (rarely reduced). Wings elongated, sometimes with long hindwing fringes (Fig. 49) in species with more lanceolate hindwings. Maculation is often white or gray with many small dark spots, or more monotone shades of brown or gray. Adults are mostly nocturnal. Larvae are leaf skeletonizers and leaf webbers, but some are leafminers or needleminers. Hosts include many different plant families. A few species are economic, particularly in the genus Yponomeuta (often misspelled as Hyponomeuta in older literature).

Ermine Moths...