Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482
Cosmopterix lespedezae
This record describes Cosmopterix lespedezae (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
South Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Arkansas, Texas (Hodges, 1978 ), and Mississippi .
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been collected from early July to mid-September .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: "Larvae feed on various Fabaceae species, including Lespedeza and Desmodium species" .
Life History
"Braun (as C. magophila sic!), gives the following description of the larval habits on Desmodium sp.: 'The mine begins in the midrib, spreading outward and upward between two lateral veins; in that part of the early mine adjacent to the lower of the lateral veins between which it lies, the parenchyma is left in narrow transverse bars, giving the mine a very characteristic aspect; as the mine increases, it extends beyond the confines of the two veins, with irregular projections and parenchyma all consumed. Pupa formed within the mine beneath the transverse bars, which are here lined with silk forming a tubular pupal chamber'" .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix lespedezae. 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 lespedezae - Hodges#1482 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert Lord Zimlich , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482
What is Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482?
Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482 (Cosmopterix lespedezae) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482?
Forewing length 4.7 mm .
How do you identify Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482?
See description and figures here .
Where is Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482 found?
Range: South Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Arkansas, Texas (Hodges, 1978 ), and Mississippi .
What does Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482 eat?
The diet of the Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482 includes Larvae feed on various Fabaceae species, including Lespedeza and Desmodium species ..
When is Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482 active?
Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482: seasonal activity - Adults have been collected from early July to mid-September ..
What is the life cycle of a Cosmopterix lespedezae - Hodges#1482?
Braun (as C. magophila sic!), gives the following description of the larval habits on Desmodium sp.: 'The mine begins in the midrib, spreading outward and upward between two lateral veins; in that part of the early mine adjacent to the lower of the lateral veins between which it lies, the parenchyma is left in narrow transverse bars, giving the mine a very characteristic aspect; as the mine increases, it extends beyond the confines of the two veins, with irregular projections and parenchyma all consumed. Pupa formed within the mine beneath the transverse bars, which are here lined with silk forming a tubular pupal chamber' .