Plutella xylostella, Crete - photo © Κ. Bormpoudaki
The Family Plutellidae (Plutellid Moths)
The Family Plutellidae
The family Plutellidae is a family of moths commonly known as the diamondback moths, named after the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella of European origin. Some authors consider this family to be a subfamily of the Yponomeutidae, but it is usually considered to be a separate family.
Typical members of this family are small to medium size (7–55 mm wingspan), with usually smooth-scaled heads. They have elongated wings, sometimes with longer fringes; on hindwings and forewings, they sometimes appear apically falcate due to fringe arrangement. Maculation varies, with various markings or bands, but a few are colorful. Adults are mostly nocturnal or crepuscular, but some are diurnal.
Larvae are leaf skeletonizers and most feed on plants in the Brassicaceae family (mustards and cabbages). The majority of them remain unknown biologically. Pupation occurs in loose, meshwork cocoons.
The following species are representative species of the Plutellidae moths that have been photographed on the island of Crete. You can obtain more information about each species, by selecting the relative species icon. The list of Plutellidae species is nondefinitive.
