kids encyclopedia robot

Many-plumed moth facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Many-plumed moths
Alucita hexadactyla (Edkins).jpg
Twenty-plume Moth
(Alucita hexadactyla)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Suborder:
Glossata
Infraorder:
Heteroneura
(unranked):
Family:
Alucitidae

Leach, 1815

The many-plumed moths are the Alucitidae, a family of moths with unusually modified wings. Both fore- and hind-wings consist of about six rigid spines, from which radiate flexible bristles. They make a structure similar to a bird's feather.

This is a small family, with 9 genera and 130 species. They are found mostly in temperate to subtropical (but not tropical) regions. They are rare even in parts of their core range; both in Great Britain and North America for example, only one species is found – the Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) – and in America, it is introduced. This smallish moth may be found fluttering in the evening twilight or resting with its "wings" outstretched. Its larvae feed on honeysuckle (Lonicera).

On the other hand, in Continental Europe there are many species, mostly of the large genus Alucita.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Alucitidae para niños

kids search engine
Many-plumed moth Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.