Ypsolophidae
Submitted by walwyn
The Ypsolophidae are a small family of about 160 species of micro-moths in the superfamily Ypsolophoidea, with 8 species recorded in the UK and around 50 in Europe. The family was established by Thomas Bainbrigge Fletcher in 1929.
Adults have wingspans of 10–22 mm, with narrow, pointed wings held roof-like at rest; coloration is typically subdued—gray, brown, or ocher—with faint patterns. Most are nocturnal. Larvae are leaf tiers or rollers, feeding on a range of woody plants, especially Fagaceae (oaks, beech), Salicaceae (willows), and Rosaceae.
The family includes genera such as Ypsolopha (e.g., Y. parenthesella, a UK oak feeder), Phrealcia, and Ochsenheimeria. Recent molecular studies have clarified its position outside Gelechioidea and supported its distinct superfamily status.
