Asciidae

Asciidae is a family of moths in the suborder Ditrysia, section Xyrencera of the superfamily Gelechioidea. The family is characterized by moths with a small size, ranging from 10 to 15 millimeters in length, which are often uniformly colored in shades of gray, brown, or black. The wings are narrow, with a tendency towards tapering, and the antennae are usually thread-like.

The Asciidae family has a global distribution, with species found in various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Many Asciidae species are associated with the deciduous and mixed forests, where the moths can be found on tree trunks, branches, and leaves.

Some species of the Asciidae family have adaptations which allow them to blind ants. Species in the genus Prissononosis, for example, produce chemical secretions to deter ants from approaching them, effectively blinding the ants by affecting their phototactic response. This is an example of a defense mechanism that allows some Asciidae species to coexist with ants in their natural habitats.

Adults of the Asciidae family are typically active during the night, and feeding is done by hovering around flowers as they seep out chemical substances that attract the moths. Where chemical attraction is impractical, the moths appear to have short, setaceous antennae, which is believed to aid in the detection of forthcoming nectar flow by dilatation of the petals, thus intensifying the chemical signals released.