Cosmopterix inopis - Hodges#1488
Cosmopterix inopis
This record describes Cosmopterix inopis (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See description and figures here . Koster (2010) stated Although the outer dorsal spot on the forewing is generally larger in C. inopis , it cannot be distinguished with certainty by the external characters from C. interfracta, C. lespedezae and C. teligera . Identification only possible by examination of the male and female genitalia. C. interfracta does not occur north of Mexico.
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
Southern Arizona; southern Florida. Holotype ♂ from U.S., Arizona, Madera Canyon, 4880', Santa Rita Mountains, 23-ix-1959, R.W. Hodges.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix inopis. 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 inopis - Hodges#1488 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix inopis - Hodges#1488
What is Cosmopterix inopis - Hodges#1488?
Cosmopterix inopis - Hodges#1488 (Cosmopterix inopis) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cosmopterix inopis - Hodges#1488?
Forewing length 4.5 mm.
How do you identify Cosmopterix inopis - Hodges#1488?
See description and figures here . Koster (2010) stated Although the outer dorsal spot on the forewing is generally larger in C. inopis , it cannot be distinguished with certainty by the external characters from C. interfracta, C. lespedezae and C. teligera . Identification only possible by examination of the male and female genitalia. C. interfracta does not occur north of Mexico.
Where is Cosmopterix inopis - Hodges#1488 found?
Range: Southern Arizona; southern Florida. Holotype ♂ from U.S., Arizona, Madera Canyon, 4880', Santa Rita Mountains, 23-ix-1959, R.W. Hodges.