The ailanthus webworm is an ermine moth now found commonly in the United States. It was formerly known under the scientific name Atteva punctella. This small, very colorful moth resembles a true bug or beetle when not in flight, but in flight it resembles a wasp.
Attevidae is a family of moths of the Yponomeutoidea superfamily, containing only one genus, Atteva. The group has a pantropical distribution; however, the range of at least one species, Atteva aurea, extends into the temperate zone. No consistent hypotheses regarding the relationships, placement, and ranking of Attevidae have been published, but the prevalent view is that they likely form a monophyletic group within the Yponomeutoidea.
Samia cynthia, the ailanthus silkmoth, is a saturniid moth, used to produce silk fabric but not as domesticated as the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The moth has very large wings of 113–125 mm (4.4–4.9 in), with a quarter-moon shaped spot on both the upper and lower wings, whitish and yellow stripes and brown background. There are eyespots on the outer forewings. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.
Atteva niphocosma is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is found in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland and northern Western Australia.
Atteva pustulella is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is found from Costa Rica, where it meets Atteva aurea, southwards to Uruguay and Argentina. It is also present in the Antilles. There are also several reports from Dominica, Jamaica, Haiti and Martinique.
Atteva hysginiella is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands.
Atteva zebra is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is known only from Costa Rica and Panama.
Atteva gemmata is a moth of the family Attevidae. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873 and is endemic to Cuba.
Atteva siderea is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is endemic to the Dominican Republic.
Atteva fulviguttata is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is endemic to Jamaica and Hispaniola.
Atteva flavivitta is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is only known from Isla Margarita in Venezuela.
Atteva cosmogona is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.
Atteva numeratrix is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is found in Brazil.
Atteva rawlinsi is a moth of the Attevidae family. It is endemic to the Dominican Republic.
Atteva sidereoides is a moth of the Attevidae family. It is endemic to the Dominican Republic.
Atteva intermedia is a moth of the Attevidae family. It is endemic to Antigua.
Atteva zebrina is a moth of the Attevidae family. It is found in Brazil.
Atteva fabriciella, the Ailanthus webworm moth, is a moth of the family Attevidae. It is found in China, India and Sri Lanka. It is considered one of deadliest plant pest on Ailanthus species.
Atteva wallengreni is a moth of the Attevidae family. It is found in China, Indonesia (Bali), Malaysia (Perak), Thailand and Vietnam.
Atteva yanguifella is a moth of the Attevidae family. It is found in China (Xizang).
