Lepidoptera33 species

Family Shiny Headstand Moths (Argyresthiidae)

Argyresthiidae is a family in the order Lepidoptera. Browse 33 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Argyresthiidae (33)

Argyresthia albistria

Wingspan 9-12 mm. A plainer and less metallic-looking species than many others of the genus, this moth has a chestnut-brown forewing, usually with a creamy-white stripe from the head to about a third the length of the wing. Various habitats, especial

Juniper Seed Moth

Argyresthia alternatella

Argyresthia alternatella is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae. It is found in North America, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Quebec and Texas.

Argyresthia aureoargentella - Hodges#2440

Argyresthia aureoargentella

Argyresthia aureoargentella is a moth of the Yponomeutidae family. It is found in North America, including Ontario and Quebec.

Argyresthia austerella - Hodges#2441

Argyresthia austerella

Argyresthia austerella is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae. It is found in North America, including Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire and Maryland.

Argyresthia bonnetella

Wingspan 9-11 mm. Very similar to the Cherry Fruit Moth in appearance, this species can be distinguished with care by the angle of the markings on the forewing. Best looked for around Hawthorn hedges and bushes. Common throughout most of mainland Bri

Argyresthia brockeella

Wingspan 9-12 mm. One of several similar very small but brightly-coloured moths. Quite distinctive with its metallic bronze and white-spotted appearance but easily overlooked due to its size. Members of this genus rest distinctively 'head-down'. The

Argyresthia calliphanes - Hodges#2444

Argyresthia calliphanes

Argyresthia calliphanes is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae. It is found in Canada from Ontario to British Columbia and possibly in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In the United States, it ranges from New York to California.

Argyresthia canadensis - Hodges#2445

Argyresthia canadensis

Argyresthia canadensis, the Canadian arborvitae leafminer or cedar leafminer, is a moth of the Yponomeutidae family. It is found in North America.

Apple Fruit Moth

Argyresthia conjugella

Wingspan 10-14 mm. One of the larger and more distinctive Argyresthia species, though it can be rather variable. There is a unicolorous brown form ( F. aerariella ) which can be rather confusing. They can be found by day flying around the foodplants

Argyresthia cupressella

Wingspan 8 to 9 mm. Avery small moth with a patterning of mottled oranges and white. In Britain the adults are on the wing in June and July. The larvae feed on Cypress and Juniper, feeding internally on the leaves and young shoots. In spring affected

Argyresthia curvella

The adult flies at night in June and July and is attracted to light. The larva feeds on the flowers of apple trees (Malus), and can be a pest where it is abundant. Widespread and locally frequent in areas of Britain where apple trees are found. In th

Argyresthia dilectella

Gardens and parks where either Juniper or Cypress Fir is present. It flies at night in July and August, and can be attracted to strong light. Larval foodplants are Juniper and Cypress Fir. It is widely distributed in England and Wales, becoming scarc

Argyresthia glabratella

Wingspan about 10 mm. One of two greyish, unicolourous Argyresthia species, this can be confused with A. laevigatella, although the present species is usually paler grey and slightly smaller, and the two use different foodplants, which be diagnostic,

Argyresthia glaucinella

Wingspan about 9 mm. This species often shows more dark (brownish) markings than most other Argyresthia species, but detailed examination of genitallia is recommended when trying to identify it to species level. Determination of species by examinatio

Argyresthia goedartella

The typical form with white forewing crossed in the middle by a 'Y' shaped golden-brassy fascia is easily identified Open woodland, heathland, gardens and freshwater margins Flying at night and on sunny afternoons from June to August Larva mines youn

Cherry Shoot Borer Moth

Argyresthia oreasella

The Cherry Shoot Borer Moth (Argyresthia oreasella) is a moth of the Yponomeutidae family. It is found in North America, including New York, Michigan, Idaho, Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Cherry Fruit Moth

Argyresthia pruniella

Wingspan 10 to 13 mm. A small brown and white species that is similar to many others in the genus. Cherry orchards and around cherry trees. If you look closely at a cherry tree on a calm evening in July, you may find a number of these moths flitting

Argyresthia retinella

Wingspan 9 to 10 mm. This is a white moth with subtle sooty marking. The adults are generally on the wing in June and July, when they can be attracted to light as well as encountered during the day. The foodplant is Birch, the larva feeding internall

Argyresthia semifusca

Wingspan c.12 mm. The adults of this species often show a slight purplish tinge to the brown colour of the forewing. Adult moths fly from June into late August/early September. The larvae feed either on Hawthorn or Rowan in a young shoot during early

Argyresthia semitestacella

Wingspan 11 to 14mm. One of the larger of the Argyresthia species. It has a relatively plain golden brown forewing with a whitish dorsal streak extending for much of the forewing length. In areas where the larval foodplant, Beech is found. It is quit

Argyresthia sorbiella

Wingspan about 12mm. Adults are similar to A. curvella , but have a paler, more golden appearance to the brown markings, and are generally larger. Good quality photos are required and the specimen should be retained until the record has been accepted

Argyresthia spinosella

Wingspan 9-11 mm. One of several similar species. The adults fly during June and July and are attracted to light. The larvae feed internally in the flowering shoots of Blackthorn. It is distributed widely throughout much of the British Isles except f

Speckled Argyresthia Moth

Argyresthia subreticulata

Argyresthia subreticulata, the speckled argyresthia moth, is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae. It is found in the United States including Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Argyresthia thoracella - Hodges#2480

Argyresthia thoracella

Identification: The original description of Argyresthia thoracella Busck, is available online in the print references below. This could be a complex of species.

Arborvitae Leafminer

Argyresthia thuiella

The arborvitae leafminer, thuja mining moth or American thuja shoot moth (Argyresthia thuiella) is a moth of the Yponomeutidae family. It is found in southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States to North Carolina, west to Missouri, north to

Argyresthia trifasciata

Tiny (6-8 mm wingspan) but quite distinctive with three white hoops around a golden background. It also has a white head. The larva mines the scale leaves of various trees in the Cypress family, entering each leaf through a hole. The mined leaves the

Argyresthia annettella - Hodges#2437

Argyresthia annettella

Argyresthia apicimaculella - Hodges#2438

Argyresthia apicimaculella

Argyresthia franciscella - Hodges#2453

Argyresthia franciscella

Argyresthia freyella - Hodges#2455

Argyresthia freyella

Argyresthia inscriptella - Hodges#2458

Argyresthia inscriptella

Argyresthia quadristrigella - Hodges#2475

Argyresthia quadristrigella