Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705
Cosipara tricoloralis
This record describes Cosipara tricoloralis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing ground color white, covered by dark speckling and overlaid by dark gray, dull orangish, and brownish-gray shading in AM, PM, and subterminal areas respectively [based on appearance of this photo ]; AM and PM lines paler than remainder of wing; terminal line composed of coalesced black spots; basal half of fringe scales checkered, and distal half grayish Page creation based on tentative identification of this image by Brian Scholtens
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Scopariinae
- Genus
- Cosipara
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia, east to Colorado; apparently the only species of Cosipara within this geographic range
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in July and August
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosipara tricoloralis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705
What is Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705?
Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705 (Cosipara tricoloralis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705?
forewing length 10 - 11 mm
How do you identify Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705?
Adult: forewing ground color white, covered by dark speckling and overlaid by dark gray, dull orangish, and brownish-gray shading in AM, PM, and subterminal areas respectively [based on appearance of this photo ]; AM and PM lines paler than remainder of wing; terminal line composed of coalesced black spots; basal half of fringe scales checkered, and distal half grayish
Where is Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705 found?
Range: California to British Columbia, east to Colorado; apparently the only species of Cosipara within this geographic range
When is Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705 active?
Tricolored Cosipara - Hodges#4705: seasonal activity - adults fly in July and August.