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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #384424
Research Project: Systematics of Hyper-Diverse Moth Superfamilies, with an Emphasis on Agricultural Pests, Invasive Species, Biological Control Agents, and Food Security

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: In pursuit of the smallest Lepidoptera in the world

Author
item STONIS, JANAS - Lithuanian University Of Educational Sciences
item Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: News of the Lepidopterist's Society
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/25/2021
Publication Date: 6/25/2021
Citation: Stonis, J.R., Solis, M.A. 2021. In pursuit of the smallest Lepidoptera in the world. News of the Lepidopterist's Society. 63(2):97.

Interpretive Summary: N/A X = Other (Book Review/Obit)

Technical Abstract: A recent paper about the smallest Lepidoptera in the world and the complexity of measuring extremely small moths is highlighted. Two families of moths, Gracillariidae or leaf blotch moths, and especially the Nepticulidae or pygmy moths, stand out from other lepidopteran families because of their extremely small size. The length of the forewing of the smallest moth species is about 1.2–1.3 mm., and the width of extended wings is about 2.6–2.8 mm. A new species from South America exemplifies the size and beauty of these leaf mining moths.