The Nepticulidae and Opostegidae (Lepidoptera) of North West Europe

This monograph treats the northwest European Nepticulidae and Opostegidae, which together form the superfamily Nepticuloidea. All species occurring in Fennoscandia, Denmark, the British Isles, the Netherlands, Belgium, northern France (north of Paris), Germany, Poland and the Baltic states, are included. This comprises 121 Nepticulidae and 4 Opostegidae. All species are illustrated in full colour; additional colour illustrations show sexual dimorphism and polymorphism. There are line drawings of male and female genitalia and leaf-mines for all species. All species are completely redescribed with additional notes on biology and distribution. Twenty-six lectotypes are designated. Bucculatrix antispilella Meess is synonymized with Bohemannia quadrimaculella (Boheman); Opostega bimaculatella Rothschild, O. costantiniella Costantini in Turati and O. heringella Mariani are all synonymized with O. spatulella Herrich-Schäffer. A richly illustrated separate chapter gives descriptions of fully grown larvae of most species. A synoptic introduction covering morphology, immature stages, biology, systematics and classification is provided for each family. Further, remarks on handling of nepticulids, rearing and collecting are given. Keys are given for adults, male and female genitalia and mines and larvae.