''Mapsidius'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
gelechioid moth
__NOTOC__
Gelechioidea (from the type genus ''Gelechia'', "keeping to the ground") is the Taxonomic rank, superfamily of moths that contains the case-bearers, twirler moths, and relatives, also simply called curved-horn moths or gelechioid moths. ...
s, which is mostly placed in the
flower moth family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
, which is sometimes included as a
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
in the
Xyloryctidae, or together with these merged into the
Oecophoridae.
[Pitkin & Jenkins (2004), AEBR (2008), ToL (2008), FE (2009), and see references in Savela (2008)] The genus is known only from the
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
an Islands.
The caterpillars of these moths feed within webs on the new apical foliage. Later, when the leaves are fully expanded they are sometimes very ragged from the work of these larvae. The white, densely spun cocoons are made on the leaves.
Species
* ''
Mapsidius auspicata''
Walsingham, 1907
* ''
Mapsidius charpentierii''
Swezey, 1932
* ''
Mapsidius chenopodii''
Swezey, 1947
* ''
Mapsidius iridescens''
Walsingham, 1907
* ''
Mapsidius quadridentata''
Walsingham, 1907
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6754218
Scythrididae
Endemic moths of Hawaii
Moth genera