Gracillariidae

moth family

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July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The Gracillariidae are a family of small moths, often dull or metallic in color. Their larvae are known for mining the leaves of various plants. This family belongs to the superfamily Gracillarioidea, which contains about 2,300 species worldwide. The larvae in this superfamily are primarily leaf miners or stem borers and have degenerative legs and mandibles. The adult moths typically have narrow, long-fringed wings, often with metallic markings.12

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Lepidoptera
Annotated classification
…miners or stem borers Families Gracillariidae and Douglasiidae Approximately 2,000 species worldwide whose larvae have degenerative legs and mandibles; adults with narrow, long-fringed wings often with metallic markings; larvae mostly leaf miners or stem borers, sometimes greatly flattened. Superfamily Hesperioidea 3,500 species worldwide
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…miners or stem borers Families Gracillariidae and Douglasiidae Approximately 2,000 species worldwide whose larvae have degenerative legs and mandibles; adults with narrow, long-fringed wings often with metallic markings; larvae mostly leaf miners or stem borers, sometimes greatly flattened. Superfamily Hesperioidea 3,500 species worldwide
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