2 Oct 2023

Depressariidae

Submitted by walwyn
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Brown-spot Flat-body (Agonopterix alstromeriana)

 

The Depressariidae are a family of about 2,300 species of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. They occur worldwide, with greatest diversity in the Neotropics and Australia; roughly 60 species are known from North America. The family was established by Thomas Bainbrigge Fletcher in 1929.

Adults have wingspans of 10–25 mm, with broad, flattened wings held roof-like at rest and often raised slightly at the rear (hence "depressed"). Coloration is usually subdued—brown, gray, or ocher—with subtle patterns. Most are nocturnal. Larvae are leaf tiers, rollers, or case-makers, feeding on a wide range of dicot plants; some bore into stems or seeds.

The family includes subfamilies such as Depressariinae (with genera Depressaria, Agonopterix, and Semioscopis) and Peleopodinae. Many species remain undescribed, particularly in South America and Southeast Asia. Recent studies emphasize molecular phylogenetics and host plant associations.

 

 

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