Many-plumed moth
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| Alucitidae | ||||||||||||||
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 Twenty-plume moth, Alucita hexadactyla
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Diversity | ||||||||||||||
| 9 genera, about 130 species |
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| Type species | ||||||||||||||
| Alucita hexadactyla |
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| Genera | ||||||||||||||
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Alinguata |
The Alucitidae or many-plumed moths are a family of moths with unusually modified wings. This is a small family, with about 130 species having been described to date; sometimes the roughly 20 Tineodidae species are merged herein, making the Alucitoidea superfamily monotypic.
Both fore- and hind-wings consist of about six rigid spines, from which radiate flexible bristles creating a structure similar to a bird's feather. Both in Great Britain and North America only one species is found - Alucita hexadactyla. This smallish moth can often be found fluttering in the evening twilight or resting with its 'wings' outstretched. Its larvae feed on honeysuckle (Lonicera).
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