LepidopteraCosmopterigidae – Cosmet Moths

Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485

Cosmopterix quadrilineella

This record describes Cosmopterix quadrilineella (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485 - Cosmopterix quadrilineella
Contributed by Kyhl Austin

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

Texas, Arizona (Hodges, 1978 ), Arkansas, California .

Seasonal Activity

Adults fly from May to October (Hodges, 1978 ) .

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cosmopterix quadrilineella. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485

What is Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485?

Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485 (Cosmopterix quadrilineella) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485?

Forewing length 4.2 mm .

How do you identify Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485?

See description and figures here .

Where is Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485 found?

Range: Texas, Arizona (Hodges, 1978 ), Arkansas, California .

When is Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485 active?

Cosmopterix quadrilineella - Hodges#1485: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to October (Hodges, 1978 ) ..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.