LepidopteraCosmopterigidae – Cosmet Moths

Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492

Cosmopterix damnosa

This record describes Cosmopterix damnosa (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492 - Cosmopterix damnosa
Contributed by Kyhl Austin

See description and figures here .

Identification notes

See description and figures here .

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 Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, and New Hampshire .

Seasonal Activity

Adults have been collected from late March to mid April and in September, indicating two generations .

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix damnosa. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492 (2)

Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492 - photo 1
Contributed by Kyhl Austin
Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492 - photo 2
Contributed by Kyhl Austin

Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin

Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492

What is Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492?

Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492 (Cosmopterix damnosa) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492?

Forewing length 3.3-5.1 mm .

How do you identify Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492?

See description and figures here .

Where is Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492 found?

Range: Records from Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, and New Hampshire .

When is Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492 active?

Cosmopterix damnosa - Hodges#1492: seasonal activity - Adults have been collected from late March to mid April and in September, indicating two generations ..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.