Cosmopterix fernaldella - Hodges#1496
Cosmopterix fernaldella
This record describes Cosmopterix fernaldella (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
USA: from Maine and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania (Hodges, 1978 ), Wisconsin and Minnesota Canada: Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet in honor of entomologist Charles H. Fernald (1838-1921).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix fernaldella. 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 fernaldella - Hodges#1496 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , ceiseman , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix fernaldella - Hodges#1496
What is Cosmopterix fernaldella - Hodges#1496?
Cosmopterix fernaldella - Hodges#1496 (Cosmopterix fernaldella) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cosmopterix fernaldella - Hodges#1496?
Forewing length 4.8-5.0 mm .
How do you identify Cosmopterix fernaldella - Hodges#1496?
See description and figures here .
Where is Cosmopterix fernaldella - Hodges#1496 found?
Range: USA: from Maine and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania (Hodges, 1978 ), Wisconsin and Minnesota Canada: Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia