A survey of Gelechioidea (Lepidoptera) in the Black Belt Region of Mississippi

Surveys of moths in 10 prairie and two forest sites in the Black Belt of Mississippi that began in 1991 have resulted in the collection of 144 species of Gelechioidea representing seven families.  This survey resulted in discovery of a new species of Elachistidae, Elachista ciligera, and a new genus and new species of Autostichidae, Spinitibia hodgesi.  Nine species of gelechioids were collected that have disjunct distributions from other grasslands.  A comparison of the species in the forest and prairie based on one sample indicated that 14 of 39 species were dominant in the prairie, with the remainder being found in both prairie and forest or only in forest.