Abstract
<jats:p>Even in the age of technology, the social development is inconceivable without the investigation of structural elements of living nature, especially those of economic significance. Endobiontic, i.e., living in plant tissues, insects are not only an integral part of almost every terrestrial ecosystem, but also important indicators of general evolutionary processes. Phylogenetically, primitive but ecologically specialized Nepticulidae are probably among the most interesting families of the order Lepidoptera (Navickaitė, 2014; Navickaitė et al., 2014). The family also includes the world’s smallest moths (Stonis et al., 2021) (Figs 1–9). Much useful information on the morphology, ecology, and distribution of Nepticulidae can be found in various monographs, books or articles, including monographs cited in the current publication (Johansson et al., 1990; Puplesis, 1994; Puplesis & Diškus, 2003; Diškus & Stonis, 2012). Nepticulidae are characterized by a specialized mode of life: their larvae are miners in green (photosynthetic) plant tissues. Sometimes they are referred to as plant pests or potential pests. On the other hand, being extremely small and living inside plant tissues, Nepticulidae, like other endobiotic organisms, are still under-sampled and under-studied in many regions of the world. There is a serious lack of qualified professionals and diagnostic tools that can be used not only by biotaxonomists but also by other users (including educators as well as foresters, gardeners, conservationists). With this project, the authors aimed to develop and present a tool for the identification of leaf and stem mines and taxa, which would be freely accessible for today’s users. Together with the current guide, we developed and provided for use the first electronic diagnostic system for mines and species of the Lithuanian Nepticulidae: “Diagnostics of mines of the Lithuanian Nepticulidae” (https://leafmines.info). This identification tool is freely accessible and manageable with smart electronic devices (e.g., smart phones). Such an easy-to-use and involving system is a rather innovative product of biotaxonomy and, we hope, will provide users with the means and ability to identify the endobiotic Nepticulidae themselves.</jats:p>