Cosmopterix delicatella
Encyclopedia
Cosmopterix delicatella is a moth
of the Cosmopterigidae
family. It is known from North Carolina
, but is possibly more widespread.
Male. Forewing length 4.9 mm. Head: frons shining pale ochreous-grey with greenish and reddish reflections, vertex and neck tufts shining greyish ochreous-brown with reddish reflection, laterally and medially lined white, collar ochreous-brown; labial palpus first segment very short, white, second segment four-fifths of the length of third, greyish brown with white longitudinal lines laterally and ventrally, third segment white, lined dark brown laterally; scape brown with a white anterior line, white ventrally, antenna greyish brown with a white line from base to one-quarter, changing into an interrupted line to two-thirds, interruptions in middle often indistinct or partly absent, followed towards apex by respectively a more or less greyish brown part of approximately ten segments, one white, two dark brown, two white, ten greyish brown, four white and four greyish brown segments at apex. Thorax greyish brown with a white median line; tegulae greyish brown, lined white inwardly. Legs: foreleg brownish grey with a white line on tibia and tarsal segments one, two, basal half of three and five, midlegs absent, femur of hindleg ochreous-white, remaining parts ochreous grey, tibia of hindleg with oblique basal and medial white lines and a white apical ring, tarsal segments with a dorsal white line, interrupted in the basal half of segment one, spurs white, ventrally ochreous-grey. Forewing greyish brown, four rather broad white lines in the basal area, a subcostal from base to one-third, slightly bending from costa, a medial above fold, from one-sixth and ending just before the transverse fascia, a subdorsal below fold, from one-quarter and ending just beyond the medial line, a dorsal from base to one-third, a broad yellow transverse fascia beyond the middle, slightly narrowing dorsally and with an irregular apical protrusion, bordered by four pale golden metallic, tubercular spots near or at costa and dorsum, on the inner edge by a subcostal spot, outwardly edged by a patch of blackish brown scales and by a subdorsal spot, similar in size but further from base than the subcostal, both outer spots of different size, the dorsal spot about twice as large as the costal and both spots almost opposite and greyish brown edged inwardly, a white costal streak from the outer costal spot and a shining white apical line from the apical protrusion to apex, cilia greyish brown, ochreous-grey towards dorsum. Hindwing shining brownish grey, cilia ochreous-grey. Underside: forewing shining greyish brown, the white apical line distinctly visible, hindwing shining greyish brown. Abdomen dorsally shining golden brown with some reddish gloss, ventrally shining grey mixed yellowish white, segments broadly banded yellowish white posteriorly, anal tuft yellowish white.
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 known from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, but is possibly more widespread.
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. Forewing length 4.9 mm. Head: frons shining pale ochreous-grey with greenish and reddish reflections, vertex and neck tufts shining greyish ochreous-brown with reddish reflection, laterally and medially lined white, collar ochreous-brown; labial palpus first segment very short, white, second segment four-fifths of the length of third, greyish brown with white longitudinal lines laterally and ventrally, third segment white, lined dark brown laterally; scape brown with a white anterior line, white ventrally, antenna greyish brown with a white line from base to one-quarter, changing into an interrupted line to two-thirds, interruptions in middle often indistinct or partly absent, followed towards apex by respectively a more or less greyish brown part of approximately ten segments, one white, two dark brown, two white, ten greyish brown, four white and four greyish brown segments at apex. Thorax greyish brown with a white median line; tegulae greyish brown, lined white inwardly. Legs: foreleg brownish grey with a white line on tibia and tarsal segments one, two, basal half of three and five, midlegs absent, femur of hindleg ochreous-white, remaining parts ochreous grey, tibia of hindleg with oblique basal and medial white lines and a white apical ring, tarsal segments with a dorsal white line, interrupted in the basal half of segment one, spurs white, ventrally ochreous-grey. Forewing greyish brown, four rather broad white lines in the basal area, a subcostal from base to one-third, slightly bending from costa, a medial above fold, from one-sixth and ending just before the transverse fascia, a subdorsal below fold, from one-quarter and ending just beyond the medial line, a dorsal from base to one-third, a broad yellow transverse fascia beyond the middle, slightly narrowing dorsally and with an irregular apical protrusion, bordered by four pale golden metallic, tubercular spots near or at costa and dorsum, on the inner edge by a subcostal spot, outwardly edged by a patch of blackish brown scales and by a subdorsal spot, similar in size but further from base than the subcostal, both outer spots of different size, the dorsal spot about twice as large as the costal and both spots almost opposite and greyish brown edged inwardly, a white costal streak from the outer costal spot and a shining white apical line from the apical protrusion to apex, cilia greyish brown, ochreous-grey towards dorsum. Hindwing shining brownish grey, cilia ochreous-grey. Underside: forewing shining greyish brown, the white apical line distinctly visible, hindwing shining greyish brown. Abdomen dorsally shining golden brown with some reddish gloss, ventrally shining grey mixed yellowish white, segments broadly banded yellowish white posteriorly, anal tuft yellowish white.