Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491
Cosmopterix bacata
This record describes Cosmopterix bacata (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dark brown with an intense orange transverse fascia. The apical seven segments of the antenna are white preceded by brown segments. The dorsal surface of the head has three white lines, and the dorsal surface of the thorax has a medial white line. The base of the forewing has four bluish-white lines of which the subcostal line is short and slightly curved, the anteromedial line is short and unusually shorter than the posteromedial line. The transverse fascia is bordered basally by a band of shining silver scales and distally by two offset silver spots.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cosmopteriginae
- Genus
- Cosmopterix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Records from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida . Type-locality : Leroy, Alabama. [CU]
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been taken from late April through mid-July .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown .
Life History
Unknown .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix bacata. 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 Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491
What is Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491?
Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491 (Cosmopterix bacata) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491?
FWL: 3.5-4.2 mm.
How do you identify Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491?
Dark brown with an intense orange transverse fascia. The apical seven segments of the antenna are white preceded by brown segments. The dorsal surface of the head has three white lines, and the dorsal surface of the thorax has a medial white line. The base of the forewing has four bluish-white lines of which the subcostal line is short and slightly curved, the anteromedial line is short and unusually shorter than the posteromedial line. The transverse fascia is bordered basally by a band of shining silver scales and distally by two offset silver spots.
Where is Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491 found?
Range: Records from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida . Type-locality : Leroy, Alabama. [CU]
What does Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491 eat?
The diet of the Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491 includes Unknown ..
When is Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491 active?
Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491: seasonal activity - Adults have been taken from late April through mid-July ..
What is the life cycle of a Cosmopterix bacata - Hodges#1491?
Unknown .