Adelidae

Fairy longhorn moths
Nemophora degeerella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Adeloidea
Family: Adelidae
Bruand, 1851
Diversity[1]
2 subfamilies, 5 genera and 294 species
Ceromitia iolampra

The Adelidae or fairy longhorn moths are a family of monotrysian moths in the lepidopteran infraorder Heteroneura. The family was first described by Charles Théophile Bruand d'Uzelle in 1851. Most species have at least partially metallic, patterned coloration and are diurnal, sometimes swarming around the tips of branches with an undulating flight. Others are crepuscular and have a drab coloration. Fairy longhorn moths have a wingspan of 4–28 millimeters, and males often have especially long antennae, 1–3 times as long as the forewing.

They are widespread around the world and can be found over much of North America and Eurasia from April to June. About 50 species occur in Europe, of which most widely noted is the green longhorn (Adela reaumurella) which can sometimes reach great abundance; due to climate change[2] its peak flying season is shifting towards spring. In general, they are more plentiful in the Northern Hemisphere, but the family occurs in the Neotropics, sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia and Australia too.[3]

Adelidae appear in certain plants, in which the females insert their eggs or just lay among leaf litter, and the caterpillars make a case, completing their development on the ground.[4] Fairy longhorn moths feed in sunshine on nectar from the flowers of herbaceous (woody) plants.

  1. ^ "Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness – Lepidoptera" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  2. ^ Kuchlein & Ellis (2004)
  3. ^ Edwards (2007), FE (2009)
  4. ^ "Adelidae. Brief summary". NBN Atlas. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2023.