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Glyphypterigidae
Adults diurnal; small; relatively long-bodied; medium built (wingspan more than 8 and less than 15 times the thoracic width); wings in repose packed with the forewings directed backwards to cover hindwings and abdomen.
Head usually smooth (-scaled). Antennae of medium length to very long; extending to about 0.5–0.75(–1) times the length of the forewing. Antennae of males simple; simply-ciliate, or fasciculate-ciliate. The antennal scape without a pecten; not forming an ‘eye cap’. Ocelli present (prominent). Chaetosemata present (rarely), or absent. Maxillary palps well developed, or much reduced (very small); 3–4 segmented. Labial palps ascending (curved); 3 segmented. Proboscis fully developed; not scaly.
Wingspan 7–16 mm; 15–20 times the thoracic width. Forewings narrow to broad; 2.2–4 times as long as wide (?); predominantly shining-metallic, or exhibiting shining-metallic markings, or neither shining-metallic nor with shining metallic markings (Simaethis). Hindwings ovate-lanceolate to ovate; similar in breadth to the forewings; with a rounded apex. The fringe of the hindwings 0.3–1 times the width of the membrane. The upper surfaces plain; with neither discal spot nor transverse lines; hindwings with a frenulum.
Neuration of forewings and hindwings dissimilar. Forewings 13 veined; with 2 anal veins. The anal veins of the forewings comprising 1b and 1c. Forewings exhibiting a tubular vein 1c (complete only distally). Vein 1b of the forewings furcate proximally. The transverse vein complete. Forewings with an accessory cell (e.g., Simaethis), or without an accessory cell. Discal cell of the forewings without a tubular media (M) vein. Hindwings with well developed neuration; 7–10 veined; with 3 anal veins, or lacking anal veins (sometimes with only vestigies). The anal veins of the hindwings when present, comprising 1a, 1b and 1c. Hindwings exhibiting vein 1a, or lacking vein 1a; exhibiting a tubular vein 1c, or lacking a tubular vein 1c. Vein 1b of the hindwings simple. Hindwings with a discal cell. The transverse vein complete. 6 veins arising from the hindwing cell. The cell-derived hindwing veins 3+4 proximally joined (connate or stalked). Vein 8 of the hindwings completely independent of the cell; not approximating to vein 7.
Fore-legs with a tibial epiphysis. Tibiae of middle legs 2-spurred. Posterior tibiae 4-spurred; not hairy.
Eggs, larvae and pupae. Eggs smooth or minutely pitted (?). Larval prolegs 10. Larvae concealed feeders (among spun leaves or seeds). G. equitella on the Dicot Sedum, the rest on Monocots from Gramineae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae or Sparganiaceae.
Pupae concealed; on the surface of the ground, or above the ground. Empty pupae protruded from place of concealment.
British representation. Genera 2; 8 species. Glyphipteryx haworthana (Cottongrass Moth), Glyphipteryx simpliciella (Cocksfoot Moth), Orthotelia sparganella, etc.
Classification. Microlepidoptera. Suborder Ditrysia. Superfamily Yponomeutoidea.
Illustrations. • Glyphipteryx haworthana, G. equitella and G. simpliciella (as fischeriella): Stainton 11, VII (1870). GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE. 1, Glyphipteryx haworthana; larva (1a), and a head of Eriophorum vaginatum tenanted by the larva and attached to a stem of Erica (1b). 2, Glyphipteryx equitella; larva (2a), and a sprig of Sedum acre with mined leaves (2b). 3, Glyphipteryx fischeriella; larva (3a), and a head of Dactylis glomerata tenanted by it (3b). Stainton 11, VII (1870). • Stainton 11, VII (1870): original legend.. • Glyphipterix haworthana: Stainton (1859). Glyphipterix haworthana (Cottongrass Moth, Haworth's Fanner). From Stainton (1859), with approximate wingspan and foodplant (from Le Maout and Decaisne) added. • Glyphipteryx haworthana: Stephens IV, 1834. • Orthotelia sparganella: Stephens IV, 1834. • Stainton's representative 'Tineina' (1854). Stainton's TINEINA (Glyphipterigidae italicised). 2, Ochsenheimeria birdella; 3, Tinea ganomella; 4, Eriocrania salopiella; 5, Nemophora metallica; 6, Swammerdamia pyrella; 7, Yponomeuta sedella; 8, Plutella xylostella; 9, Ypsolopha dentella; 10, Agonopterix alstroemeriana; 11, Pexicopia malvella; 12, Chrysoesthia drurella; 13, Ypsolopha parenthesella; 14, Schiffermuelleria grandis; 15, Scythris grandipennis; 16, Glyphipteryx equitella; 17, Heliozela resplendella; 18, Argyresthia bonnetella; 19, Caloptilia alchimiella; 20, Coleophora lineola; 21, Bedellia somnulentella; 22, Cosmopteryx lienigiella; 23, Mompha propinquella; 24, Elachista gangabella; 25, Elachista maculicerusella; 26, Emmetia marginea; 27, Phyllonorycter acerifoliella; 28, Phyllonorycter stettinensis; 29, Leucoptera malifoliella; 30, Ectoedemia sericopeza. From Stainton (1854, Plate IX). • Larvae of 'Tineina' (Stainton). 1, OECOPHORIDAE: Diurnea fagella larva, and (1a) shown between united birch leaves. 2, PSYCHIDIDAE: Taleporia(?) larva, showing cases attached to lichen (2a), and a single case enlarged. 3, YPONOMEUTIDAE: Ochsenheimeria taurella, and (3a) a section of grass stem showing the larva in situ. 4, TINEIDAE: Tineola bisselliella, with a gallery formed in feathers (4a); 4b, a case of Tinea pellionella on a feather. 5, INCURVARIIDAE: Incurvaria praelatella, with a partially devoured wild strawberry leaf (5a), and a case from the underside. 6, Incurvaria pectinea, and (6a) the larva in its case feeding on a fallen oak leaf. 7, Lampronia capitella, with (7a) a currant shoot withering from the effects of the larva feeding in the stem. 8, YPONOMEUTIDAE: Swammerdamia pyrella, with (8a) the larva in its web between united cherry leaves. 9, Yponomeutidae-Plutellinae: Plutella porrectella, and (9a) feeding on a Hesperis leaf. 10, GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE: Orthotelia sparganella, with (10a) an eaten stem of Sparganium. 11. OECOPHORIDAE: Depressaria sp., with (11a) a leaf of Centaurea nigra distorted by its attentions. 12, GELECHIIDAE: Anacampsis temerella, with (12a) a sallow leaf tenanted by it. 13, Metzneria aestivella, with (13a) a sectioned fruiting head of Carlina showing the feeding larva in situ. 14, OECOPHORIDAE: Crassa unitella, and (14a) a piece of decayed wood burrowed by the larvae. 15, GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE: Glyphipteryx equitella, with (15a) shoots of Sedum acre showing the middle one bleached by excavations of the larva. 16, YPONOMEUTIDAE: Argyresthia bonnetella, with (16a) hawthorn shoots eaten by the larva. 17, GRACILLARIIDAE: Caloptilia alchimiella, with (17a) an oak lead exhibiting a cone formed by the larva. 18, OECOPHORIDAE: Agonopterix angelicella, with (18a) its cone on a hawthorn leaf. 19, COLEOPHORIDAE: Coleophora follicularis, with (19a) a mined leaf of Eupatorium, and (19b) the case enlarged. 20, LYONETIIDAE: Bedellia somnulentella, with (20a) a mined Convolvulus arvensis leaf. 21, EPERMENIIDAE: Epermenia chaerophyllellus, with (21a) a portion of Anthriscus sylvestris leaf eaten half through by it. 22, MOMPHIDAE: Chrysoclista linneella, with (22a) a piece of inner bark of lime burrowed by it. 23, ELACHISTIDAE: Elachista maculicerusella. with (23a) a mined Phragmites leaf blade. 24, TISCHERIIDAE: Emmetia marginea, and (24a) a mined bramble leaf. 25, GRACILLARIIDAE: Phyllonorycter quinnata, with (25a) a mined Carpinus leaf. 26, LYONETIIDAE: Leucoptera laburnella, with (26a) a mined Laburnum leaf. 27, Bucculatrix bechsteinella (Bucculatricidae), and a hawthorn leaf eaten half through. 28, NEPTICULIDAE: Nepticula sp., with (28a) a mined Potentilla leaf. From Stainton (1854, Plate X). • Anthophila fabriciana, neuration.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards. Insects of Britain and Ireland: the families of Lepidoptera. Version: 14th April 2022. delta-intkey.com’.
