Alucitidae (Leach, 1815)

Pohl, Greg, Anweiler, Gary, Schmidt, Christian & Kondla, Norbert, 2010, An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada, ZooKeys 38 (38), pp. 1-549 : 133-134

41. Alucitidae – many-plumed moths

Small (10–22 mm wingspan), mottled moths with wings deeply divided into a number of plumes (six in the forewing, seven in the hindwing in North American species). When at rest, these distinctive moths usually sit in a characteristic fanlike pose. They overwinter as adults and are often found in houses at any time of the year. Larvae feed on deciduous plants; at least some are borers in buds, flowers, and shoots.

Over 180 species of Alucitidae are known worldwide; three described species are known in North America, all of which occur in AB. Th e group was revised recently, by Landry and Landry (2004).

792 * R Alucita montana Barnes and Lindsey, 1921 Jan – Dec (H) m B g T: Landry and Landry (2004) L: [ Bowman (1951)], Landry and Landry (2004) C: CNC, NFRC, OLDS, UASM

793 * R Alucita adriendenisi Landry and Landry, 2004 Jan – Dec (H) m B g T: Landry and Landry (2004) L: Landry and Landry (2004) C: CNC, NFRC

794 * R Alucita lalannei Landry and Landry, 2004 May – Sep (H) – B g T: Landry and Landry (2004) L: Landry and Landry (2004), Pohl et al. (2004b) C: CNC, NFRC

Pterophoroidea

42. Pterophoridae – plume moths

Small to medium-sized (15–30 mm wingspan) moths with long, slender bodies, and hindwings divided into three plumes. One species in CA (as well as several primitive species outside North America) do not have such divided wings. Th ey are weak fliers and have a characteristic posture at rest, holding the wings at right angles to the long body in the shape of a letter T. Larvae construct and live in loose webs. Many species are flower and seed feeders on Asteraceae , although many other plant families are utilized by the group as well.

Approximately 1150 species of Pterophoridae are known, from all parts of the world. One hundred and forty-six species are known in North America, 48 of which are reported in AB. Species richness is particularly notable in the Rocky Mountains. A world checklist has been recently published ( Gielis 2003), and the European fauna was revised by Gielis (1996). However, the North American fauna was last revised by Barnes and Lindsey (1921), and is not well known. In an unpublished thesis, Landry (1987) covered the eastern Canadian species, providing information and figures that are useful in western Canada as well. Th e higher classification here follows Gielis (2003).