Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480
Cosmopterix delicatella
This record describes Cosmopterix delicatella (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Hodges listed the range as Massachusetts to Florida and west to Mississippi. Koster mentions there are no specimens in collections to support the range stated by Hodges, and the range may possibly be larger.
Seasonal Activity
March to September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix delicatella. 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 delicatella - Hodges#1480 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480
What is Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480?
Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480 (Cosmopterix delicatella) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480?
Forewing length 4.9 mm .
How do you identify Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480?
See description and figures here .
Where is Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480 found?
Range: Hodges listed the range as Massachusetts to Florida and west to Mississippi. Koster mentions there are no specimens in collections to support the range stated by Hodges, and the range may possibly be larger.
When is Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480 active?
Cosmopterix delicatella - Hodges#1480: seasonal activity - March to September..