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(Created page with "center '''Gelechiidae''' is a family of moths commonly referred to as twirler moths or gelechiid moths. They are the namesake family of the huge and l...")
 
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Being abundant, fecund plant-eaters, many species are agricultural pests
 
Being abundant, fecund plant-eaters, many species are agricultural pests
[[Category:Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)]]
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[[Category:Micro Moths]]

Latest revision as of 10:14, 13 October 2013

Gelechiidae

Gelechiidae is a family of moths commonly referred to as twirler moths or gelechiid moths. They are the namesake family of the huge and little-studied superfamily Gelechioidea, and the Gelechiidae's relationships with and delimitation against their relatives have been subject to considerable dispute. These are generally very small moths with narrow, fringed wings. The larvae of most species feed internally on various parts of their host plants, sometimes causing galls. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga) is a host plant common to many species of the family, particularly of the genus Chionodes which is consequently more diverse in North America than usual for Gelechioidea.

By the late 20th century, over 500 genera with altogether more than 4,500 species were placed here, with about 650 known from North America alone. While these figures are certainly outdated due to the many of reevaluations of Gelechioidea and new descriptions of twirler moths, they still serve to give an impression of the enormous biodiversity contained in this important family.

Being abundant, fecund plant-eaters, many species are agricultural pests

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