Microlepidoptera (
micromoths) is an artificial (i.e., unranked and not
monophyletic) grouping of
moth families, commonly known as the 'smaller moths' (
micro,
Lepidoptera). These generally have wingspans of under 20 mm, and are thus harder to identify by external
phenotypic markings than
macrolepidoptera. They present some lifestyles which the larger lepidoptera do not have, but this is not an identifying mark. Some hobbyists further divide this group into separate groups, such as
leaf miners or rollers, stem or root borers, and then usually follow the more rigorous scientific
taxonomy of lepidopterans. Efforts to stabilize the term have usually proven inadequate.