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 Nederlands /
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Concealer moths, Oecophoridae in the garden
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and moths:
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moths, Noctuidae Geometer
moths Leafrollers,
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Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
Caterpillars of Concealer moths often feed on dead plant material, but there are also
caterpillars which feed on grain, seeds or textile. The moths are often recognizable by the long curved
palps.
According to the Dutch wikipedia: The classification of families in the order Lepidoptera has recently changed significantly, this family now includes the sexes in the old families Amphisbatidae, Autostichidae, Chimbachidae, Depressariidae, Hypertrophidae, Peleopodidae, Stathmopodidae, Stenomida and Xyloryctidae.
That makes it sometimes difficult. Agonopterix arenella you now see in the Depressariidae family, but on other sites in the family
Concealer Moths (Oecophoridae). I put it on this page.
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Larva from the family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae) on fireplace wood. Of the moths below, it certainly resembles the larva of the Esperia sulphurella and the Harpella forficella. Photos 31-10-2022 and 1-11-2022. Arnold Wijker thanks for identification.. |
Subfamily Oecophorinae.
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Borkhausenia fuscescens. Subfamily
Oecophorinae. Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
A brown small grey moth. On the wing are three dark spots.
The caterpillar feeds on leaves of trees and shrubs, dried leaves. They are also found in bird nests Like the moth in the picture, they are sometimes in a house.
It hibernates as a caterpillar.
June-August. Wingspan 7-12 mm. Europe. Photos 16-6-2014. |
Borkhausenia minutella. Subfamily Oecophorinae. Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
A slate grey moth with two on each wing pale yellow spots. I see them sometimes in the shed.
The caterpillars feed on dry plantstuffs like seeds and dried fruit.
Wingspan 10-14 mm. May-June. Europe. Photo 30-6-2013. |
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Borkhausenia nefrax. Subfamily
Oecophorinae. Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
Resembles Borkhausenia fuscescens. Light grey ocher colored wings with dark spots.
The caterpillars feed on detritus, e.g. organic waste, rotting leaves, mushrooms. The moth can often be found indoors (like my moth)
All year, depending on conditions. Wingspan 9-15 mm. United States, locally in Europe. Perhaps introduced to Europe from North America. But not sure. The first European specimen was discovered in France in the 19th century (Minet 1978), the first American specimen dates from 1959 (Hodges 1974: 125). Photos 18-2-2023. |
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Esperia sulphurella. Subfamily Oecophorinae. Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
It is a day-active moth. I have read, they are active especially early in the morning.
In 1971 the first Dutch Esperiamot was seen in Melissant (South Holland). They are now quite common.
Recognizable by the white band around the antennae, a yellow-white spot on the back and a yellow stripe on the side. ( clearly visible on photo 9-5-2018)
April-June. One generation.
The caterpillars feed on dead wood. (Beech, oak, blackthorn and blueberry)
Wingspan 12-16 mm. Photos 20-4-2009. 2-5-2018, 9-5-2018. German: Admiral French:
Vulcain. |
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Harpella forficella. Subfamily Oecophorinae. Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
Like other members of the family Oecophoridae the palps are very large..
The caterpillar feeds on decayed wood, but can also be found in tree fungus of deciduous trees. It is often found on sandy soils.
It hibernates as a caterpillar.
June-September. Wingspan 19-29 mm. Europe. Photos 17-7-2011. |
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Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila
pseudospretella). Subfamily Oecophorinae. Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
The palps are large. On the wing are three dark spots.
The caterpillar eats both plant and animal substances. For example seeds, wool, skins, dead insects, dried plants. They are also found in bird nests. Like the moth in the picture, they are much in the house and they are harmful.
It hibernates as a caterpillar. Flying all year. especially in July and August.
Wingspan 15 to 26 mm. This species is native to Asia, but now it lives in many parts of the world. Photos 4-10-2011. |
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Metalampra italica. Subfamily Oecophorinae. Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
Until recently (2013), all these moths, which were found in the Netherlands were called Metalampra cinnamomea. Thanks for the explanation Tymo Muus.
Explenation (translated) on www.microlepidoptera: Based on the initial samples (Sept 2013) based on genital examination Metalampra italica is distinguished from Metalampra cinnamomea by the bright orange or orange-brown ground colour, with mostly sharp (bright light yellow) drawing. M. cinnamomea is grayer, more brownish or dark red, with wider bands, a more developed tornus spot and the drawing is paler: yellowish to white. M. cinnamomea seems to be on the dry areas, such as domestic and sandy dunes. Mainly bound M. italica is more humid (beech or oak) forests, but rarely in alluvial forests.
The caterpillar lives in tree fungi and possibly also in the rotting wood underneath.
May-October. Wingspan 10-14 mm. Photos 4-7-2012.
8-8-2014. In the sun. |
Family Depressariidae.
Agonopterix arenella you now see in the Depressariidae family, but on other sites in the family
Concealer Moths (Oecophoridae).
Agonopterix arenella. Family Depressariidae. Somtimes in subfamily Depressariinae. Family Concealer moths (Oecophoridae).
The pale brown forewings have at its center a dark brown spot surmounted by two small dark spots.
The caterpillars feed on first as leafminer including with thistle, burdock. Later it is in a spinning at the underside of the leaf.
Wingspan 19-25 mm. August-June. The moth overwinters. Palearctic. Photo 15-7-2013. |
Familie Vuurmotten (Peleopodidae).
Sometimes considered a subfamily of Depressariidae.
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Oak lantern, long-horned flat-body, and oak-skeletonizer moth
(Carcina quercana). Family Peleopodidae. Formerly in the family Oecophoridae, then in the family Depressariidae.
It looks like Tortrix moths, Leafrollers. Long antennae. In the photo hidden under the wings. Light ochre forewings. Darkly spotted with a purple edge. Two yellow spots and a yellow fringe along the outer edge.
Wingspan: 16-22 mm.
Host plants for the caterpillar: Various deciduous trees, including oak and beech. The caterpillar (May-June) in a web on the underside of a leaf.
June-October. One generation, possibly sometimes a second generation.
Europe, introduced in North America. Photo 29-9-2024.
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On Waarneming: All
Concealer moths of the Netherlands and
all
Depressariidae of the Netherlandsall
Depressariidae of the Netherlands
Nederlands /
Dutch
 
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Insects
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Subpage butterflies
and moths:
Butterflies
Owlet
moths, Noctuidae Geometer
moths Leafrollers,
tortrix moths Pyralidae,
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