The Pterophoridae or plume moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings. Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are tiny and were formerly included among the assemblage called "Microlepidoptera".
Description and ecology The forewings of plume moths usually consist of two curved spars with more or less bedraggled bristles trailing behind. This resembles the closely related Alucitidae (many-plumed moths) at first glance, but the latter have a greater number of symmetrical plumes. The hindwings are similarly constructed, but have three spars. A few genera have normal lepidopteran wings.
The usual resting posture is with the wings extended laterally and narrowly rolled up. Often they resemble a piece of dried grass, and may pass unnoticed by potential predators even when resting in exposed situations in daylight. Some species have larvae which are stem- or root-borers while others are leaf-browsers.
Economically important pterophorids include the artichoke plume moth (Platyptilia carduidactyla Cynara cardunculus ) pest in California , while the geranium plume moth (Platyptilia pica ) and the snapdragon plume moth (Stenoptilodes antirrhina ornamental plants garden geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum ) and common snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus biological control agents against invasive plant species – Lantanophaga pusillidactyla Lantana camara Oidaematophorus beneficusAgeratina riparia ), Hellinsia balanotesBaccharis halimifolia Wheeleria spilodactylus Marrubium vulgare
The family is divided into the following subfamilies , tribes and genera, some species are also listed:Subfamily Agdistinae
Genus Agdistis Hübner, 1825 Agdistis bouyeri Agdistis linnaei Subfamily Ochyroticinae
Genus Ochyrotica Ochyrotica bjoernstadti Subfamily Pterophorinae Zeller , 1841
Tribe Exelastini Genus Antarches Genus Arcoptilia Genus Exelastis Exelastis caroli Genus Fuscoptilia Genus Marasmarcha Tribe Oidaematophorini Genus Adaina Genus Crassuncus Genus Emmelina Tutt, 1905 Emmelina monodactyla Genus Gypsochares Genus Hellinsia Tutt, 1905 Hellinsia balanotes Hellinsia emmelinoida Genus Helpaphorus Genus Karachia Genus Oidaematophorus Wallengren, 1862 Oidaematophorus beneficus Genus Paravinculia Genus Paulianilus Genus Picardia Genus Pselnophorus Wallengren, 1881 Pselnophorus meruensis Genus Puerphorus Genus Setosipennula Tribe Oxyptilini Genus Apoxyptilus Alipanah et al., 2010 Genus Buckleria Tutt, 1905 Buckleria vanderwolfi Genus Capperia Genus Crombrugghia Genus Dejongia Genus Eucapperia Eucapperia continentalis Genus Geina Genus Intercapperia Genus Megalorhipida Amsel, 1935 Megalorrhipida leucodactyla Genus Oxyptilus Genus Paracapperia Genus Prichotilus Rose and Pooni, 2003 Genus Procapperia Genus Pseudoxyptilus Alipanah et al., 2010 Genus Stangeia Tutt, 1905 Stangeia xerodes Genus Stenodacma Genus Tomotilus Genus Trichoptilus Tribe Platyptilini Genus Amblyptilia Hübner, 1825 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Genus Anstenoptilia Genus Asiaephorus Genus Bigotilia Genus Bipunctiphorus Genus Buszkoiana Genus Cnaemidophorus Wallengren, 1862 Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla Genus Crocydoscelus Genus Fletcherella Genus Gillmeria Tutt, 1905 Gillmeria ochrodactyla Genus Inferuncus Genus Koremaguia Genus Lantanophaga Zimmermann, 1958 Lantanophaga pusillidactyla Genus Leesi Genus Lioptilodes Genus Michaelophorus Genus Nippoptilia Genus Paraamblyptilia Genus Paraplatyptilia Genus Platyptilia Hübner, 1825 Platyptilia aarviki Platyptilia carduidactyla – artichoke plume mothPlatyptilia celidotus Platyptilia eberti Platyptilia falcatalis Platyptilia gonodactyla Platyptilia nussi Genus Platyptiliodes Genus Postplatyptilia Genus Quadriptilia Genus Sinpunctiptilia Sinpunctiptilia emissalis Genus Sochchora Genus Sphenarches Genus Stenoptilia Hübner, 1825 Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla Stenoptilia kiitulo Stenoptilia pterodactyla Stenoptilia zophodactylus Genus Stenoptilodes Zimmermann, 1958 Stenoptilodes antirrhina Genus Stockophorus Genus Uroloba Genus Vietteilus Genus Xyroptila Tribe Pterophorini Genus Calyciphora Genus Chocophorus Genus Cosmoclostis Cosmoclostis aglaodesma Cosmoclostis hemiadelpha Cosmoclostis pesseuta Genus Diacrotricha Genus Imbophorus Imbophorus aptalis Imbophorus leucophasmus Imbophorus pallidus Genus Merrifieldia Genus Oirata Genus Patagonophorus Genus Porrittia Genus Pterophorus Pterophorus pentadactyla Genus Septuaginta Genus Singularia Genus Tabulaephorus Genus Wheeleria Tutt, 1905 Wheeleria spilodactylus Tribe Tetraschalini Genus Macrotinactis Genus Titanoptilus Genus Tetraschalis Genus Walsinghamiella Subfamily Deuterocopinae Gielis, 1993
Genus Deuterocopus Genus Heptaloba Genus Hexadactilia Genus Leptodeuterocopus Subfamily Macropiratinae
Genus Agdistopis 
