Cosmopterix bacata
Encyclopedia
Cosmopterix bacata is a moth
of the Cosmopterigidae
family. It is found from northern Florida
to southwest Alabama
south to central Florida
and Louisiana
.
Adults have been collected from late April and mid-July.
Male, female. Forewing length 3.9-5.0 mm. Head: frons shining bronze with greenish and reddish reflections, vertex and neck tufts shining dark brown with reddish gloss, laterally and medially lined white, collar shining dark brown; labial palpus first segment very short, shining ochreous, second segment about three-quarters of the length of third, dorsally shining pale grey, ventrally and apically dark brown, third segment white, lined dark brown laterally; scape dorsally shining dark brown with a white anterior line, shining white ventrally, antenna shining dark brown, a short white line at base, often partly interrupted in distal half and with a white section of 14-17 segments at apex. Thorax and tegulae shining dark brown with reddish gloss, thorax with a white median line. Legs: shining dark brown with reddish gloss, femora of midleg and hindleg shining golden brown, foreleg with a white line on tibia and tarsal segments one, two and five, tibia of midleg with a white oblique basal line, a very indistinct pale brown oblique medial line and a white apical ring, tarsal segments one and two with white apical rings, segment five entirely white, tibia of hindleg as midleg, but the oblique medial line white and distinct, tarsal segment one with a white apical ring, other segments missing, spurs ochreous-white dorsally, dark grey ventrally. Forewing shining dark brown with reddish gloss, four white lines in the basal area, a subcostal from one-tenth to one-quarter, gradually bending from costa, a very short medial, ending just beyond the subcostal, a subdorsal, about three times as long as the medial but ending well beyond it, a short and narrow dorsal from beyond base to one-fifth, a broad dark yellow transverse fascia beyond the middle, narrowing towards dorsum, inwardly edged by a broad tubercular silver to pale golden metallic fascia, outwardly edged by two tubercular silver to pale golden metallic costal and dorsal spots, the dorsal spot about three times as large as the costal and much closer to base, both spots narrowly edged dark brown inwardly, the costal outwardly edged by a white costal streak, a silvery white apical line from the middle of the apical area, often broadly interrupted; cilia dark brown around apex, paler on dorsum towards base. Hindwing shining dark greyish brown, cilia pale brown. Underside: forewing shining dark greyish brown, the white costal streak and the white apical spot of the apical line distinctly visible, hindwing shining dark greyish brown. Abdomen dorsally shining dark brown, ventrally shining grey, segments banded shining white posteriorly, anal tuft ochreous-grey.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Cosmopterigidae
Cosmopterigidae
Cosmopterigidae is a family of insects in the Lepidoptera order. These are small moths with narrow wings whose tiny larvae feed internally on the leaves, seeds, stems, etc of their host plants. There are about 1,500 described species...
family. It is found from northern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to southwest Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
south to central Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Adults have been collected from late April and mid-July.
Description
- See glossaryGlossary of Lepidopteran termsThis glossary describes the terms used in the formal descriptions of insect species, jargon used mostly by professionals or entomologist....
for terms used
Male, female. Forewing length 3.9-5.0 mm. Head: frons shining bronze with greenish and reddish reflections, vertex and neck tufts shining dark brown with reddish gloss, laterally and medially lined white, collar shining dark brown; labial palpus first segment very short, shining ochreous, second segment about three-quarters of the length of third, dorsally shining pale grey, ventrally and apically dark brown, third segment white, lined dark brown laterally; scape dorsally shining dark brown with a white anterior line, shining white ventrally, antenna shining dark brown, a short white line at base, often partly interrupted in distal half and with a white section of 14-17 segments at apex. Thorax and tegulae shining dark brown with reddish gloss, thorax with a white median line. Legs: shining dark brown with reddish gloss, femora of midleg and hindleg shining golden brown, foreleg with a white line on tibia and tarsal segments one, two and five, tibia of midleg with a white oblique basal line, a very indistinct pale brown oblique medial line and a white apical ring, tarsal segments one and two with white apical rings, segment five entirely white, tibia of hindleg as midleg, but the oblique medial line white and distinct, tarsal segment one with a white apical ring, other segments missing, spurs ochreous-white dorsally, dark grey ventrally. Forewing shining dark brown with reddish gloss, four white lines in the basal area, a subcostal from one-tenth to one-quarter, gradually bending from costa, a very short medial, ending just beyond the subcostal, a subdorsal, about three times as long as the medial but ending well beyond it, a short and narrow dorsal from beyond base to one-fifth, a broad dark yellow transverse fascia beyond the middle, narrowing towards dorsum, inwardly edged by a broad tubercular silver to pale golden metallic fascia, outwardly edged by two tubercular silver to pale golden metallic costal and dorsal spots, the dorsal spot about three times as large as the costal and much closer to base, both spots narrowly edged dark brown inwardly, the costal outwardly edged by a white costal streak, a silvery white apical line from the middle of the apical area, often broadly interrupted; cilia dark brown around apex, paler on dorsum towards base. Hindwing shining dark greyish brown, cilia pale brown. Underside: forewing shining dark greyish brown, the white costal streak and the white apical spot of the apical line distinctly visible, hindwing shining dark greyish brown. Abdomen dorsally shining dark brown, ventrally shining grey, segments banded shining white posteriorly, anal tuft ochreous-grey.