Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471
Cosmopterix molybdina
This record describes Cosmopterix molybdina (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
C. molybdina may be recognized by the shining lead-colored pro- and mesothorax above, by the fused and shining lead-colored basal lines on the forewing, and by the distal part of the antenna having the color combination of four white segments preceded by five brown segments, four white segments, then brown segments. The transverse fascia on the forewing is yellow in eastern specimens and orange in western specimens and may be dusted with black scales Hodges believed that the geographic distribution of this species suggests that it has been introduced into North America.
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 examined specimens from Maine, Oregon, and California . Type-locality : Bar Harbor, Maine [CU] .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larva has been reared as a leaf miner on morning glory ( Ipomoea spp.) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix molybdina. 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 molybdina - Hodges#1471 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471
What is Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471?
Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471 (Cosmopterix molybdina) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471?
FWL: 4.0-4.4 mm.
How do you identify Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471?
C. molybdina may be recognized by the shining lead-colored pro- and mesothorax above, by the fused and shining lead-colored basal lines on the forewing, and by the distal part of the antenna having the color combination of four white segments preceded by five brown segments, four white segments, then brown segments. The transverse fascia on the forewing is yellow in eastern specimens and orange in western specimens and may be dusted with black scales
Where is Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471 found?
Range: Hodges examined specimens from Maine, Oregon, and California . Type-locality : Bar Harbor, Maine [CU] .
What does Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471 eat?
The diet of the Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471 includes The larva has been reared as a leaf miner on morning glory ( Ipomoea spp.) ..