Heliodinidae
The Heliodinidae are more than 50 species in a dozen genera comprehensive, globally distributed family of butterflies within the superfamily Yponomeutoidea. The family arrives in Europe with only one type, Heliodines roesella before. The main distribution area is the New World. The genus Heliodines covers most types and has the largest distribution.
Features
Possible autapomorphies of the family include the completely smooth scaly head and vestigial wing vein CuP on the forewing. These features occur but also in Glyphipteriginae from the family of Glyphipterigidae. The abdomen of the adult bees bears no spines. The doll has at the sides and at the back stiff bristles.
The small butterfly have simple eyes ( ocelli ) but no Jordan organs ( Chaetosemata ). The males have characteristic thickened sensor, the scape is unkempt or without previously arranged scales. The rails ( tibiae ) of the hind legs are smooth dorsally with scales. The front wings have metallic pattern. In females, the frenulum consists of only one bristle, the retinaculum is subcostal and consists of short recurved bristles.
The spinnerets of the crawler are unusual long and Seta VI is undeveloped on the thorax as well as in the Bedelidae. The abdominal legs are simply circular.
Way of life
The moths are most active during the day. The caterpillars are leaf miners in leaves, drill into branches, buds, fruits and plant galls of gall midges. There are also species that live in a community nest and feed on leaves. Among the food plants include various dicots, such as foxtail plants ( Chenopodiaceae ), miracle flower plants ( Nyctaginaceae ) Araliaceae ( Araliaceae ), evening primrose family ( Onagraceae ) and ice plant family ( Aizoaceae ). Pupation takes place either in hiding the caterpillar or free, in some species in a loose web of silk.
System
Several taxa that were formerly included in this family, as you have realized, no close relationship with the Heliodinidae. You will be placed in the Gelechioidea or even the Schreckensteiniidae within the Apoditrysia.