Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490
Cosmopterix gemmiferella
This record describes Cosmopterix gemmiferella (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See description and figures here . According to Frey & Boll the larvae mine on Zizania miliacea (Michx.) Doell & Aschers (Poaceae) in April and July. Further data of this host plant have not been found .
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, Illinois and northwest Arkansas south to central Florida and southern Louisiana Canada: Ontario
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in June and July in the North, early April to June farther South .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Dichanthelium dichotomum (L.) Gould (Poaceae) (Braun, 1923, as Panicum dichotomum )
Life History
The larva mines a small basal leaf in the spring, eating out almost the entire substance of the leaf. Just before pupation, it enters one of the lower stem leaves, in which it makes a small inconspicuous mine, scarcely larger than the larva, but broadening at its anterior end towards the tip of the leaf, slightly inflated, and showing us a convexity on the upper surface of the leaf. Within this cavity, which is silk-lined, pupation takes place. Beyond the pupation chamber, the mines extends a short distance forwards, but is scarcely visible except at its end, where the epidermis is almost eaten through, permitting the emergence of the imago (Braun, 1923) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix gemmiferella. 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 gemmiferella - Hodges#1490 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , ceiseman , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490
What is Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490?
Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490 (Cosmopterix gemmiferella) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490?
Forewing length 4.5-5.1 mm .
How do you identify Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490?
See description and figures here .
Where is Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490 found?
Range: USA: from Maine, Illinois and northwest Arkansas south to central Florida and southern Louisiana Canada: Ontario
What does Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490 eat?
The diet of the Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490 includes Dichanthelium dichotomum (L.) Gould (Poaceae) (Braun, 1923, as Panicum dichotomum ).
When is Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490 active?
Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490: seasonal activity - Adults fly in June and July in the North, early April to June farther South ..
What is the life cycle of a Cosmopterix gemmiferella - Hodges#1490?
The larva mines a small basal leaf in the spring, eating out almost the entire substance of the leaf. Just before pupation, it enters one of the lower stem leaves, in which it makes a small inconspicuous mine, scarcely larger than the larva, but broadening at its anterior end towards the tip of the leaf, slightly inflated, and showing us a convexity on the upper surface of the leaf. Within this cavity, which is silk-lined, pupation takes place. Beyond the pupation chamber, the mines extends a short distance forwards, but is scarcely visible except at its end, where the epidermis is almost eaten through, permitting the emergence of the imago (Braun, 1923) .