Cosmopterix thrasyzela
Encyclopedia
Cosmopterix thrasyzela is a moth
of the Cosmopterigidae
family. It is known from Brazil
(Amazonas, Para) and Guyana
.
Adults have been recorded in February and August.
Male, female. Forewing length 2.7-3.1 mm. Head: frons shining greyish white, vertex and neck tufts shining dark bronze brown, laterally and medially lined white, collar shining dark bronze brown; labial palpus first segment very short, white, second segment four-fifths of the length of third, dark brown with white longitudinal lines laterally and ventrally, third segment white, lined dark brown laterally; scape dorsally shining brown with a white anterior line, ventrally shining white, antenna shining dark brown with a white line from base to three-fifths, sometimes interrupted distally, followed towards apex by approximately nine dark brown segments, two white, ten dark brown and seven white segments at apex. Thorax shining dark brown with white median line, tegulae shining dark brown, lined white inwardly. Legs: shining dark brown, femora of midleg and hindleg shining golden, foreleg with a white line on tibia and tarsal segments, tibia of midleg with a silvery white oblique basal streak and white medial and apical rings, tarsal segments with indistinct white apical rings, tarsal segment five entirely whitish, tibia of hindleg as midleg, spurs white dorsally, brownish ventrally. Forewing shining dark brown with reddish gloss, four short and narrow white lines in the basal area, a subcostal from one-eighth to one-quarter, a very short and narrow second subcostal just inward of the transverse fascia, a medial from one-fifth to one-third, a subdorsal also from one-fifth, but slightly longer than the medial, a bright yellowish orange transverse fascia beyond the middle, narrowing towards dorsum on the outer edge, bordered at the inner edge by a tubercular pale golden metallic fascia with a small subcostal patch of blackish scales on the outside, bordered at the outer edge by two tubercular pale golden metallic costal and dorsal spots, the dorsal spot about twice as large as the costal and more towards base, both spots with an irregular dark brown inward lining, a white costal streak from the costal spot, the apical line as a silvery white spot in the middle of the apical area and a white streak in apical cilia, cilia dark brown, paler towards dorsum. Hindwing shining dark brownish grey, cilia dark brown. Underside: forewing shining dark greyish brown, hindwing shining dark greyish brown. Abdomen dorsally ochreous brown with greenish and purplish reflections, ventrally shining dark grey with golden gloss, segments banded ochreous white posteriorly, anal tuft dark greyish brown.
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 Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(Amazonas, Para) and Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
.
Adults have been recorded in February and August.
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 2.7-3.1 mm. Head: frons shining greyish white, vertex and neck tufts shining dark bronze brown, laterally and medially lined white, collar shining dark bronze brown; labial palpus first segment very short, white, second segment four-fifths of the length of third, dark brown with white longitudinal lines laterally and ventrally, third segment white, lined dark brown laterally; scape dorsally shining brown with a white anterior line, ventrally shining white, antenna shining dark brown with a white line from base to three-fifths, sometimes interrupted distally, followed towards apex by approximately nine dark brown segments, two white, ten dark brown and seven white segments at apex. Thorax shining dark brown with white median line, tegulae shining dark brown, lined white inwardly. Legs: shining dark brown, femora of midleg and hindleg shining golden, foreleg with a white line on tibia and tarsal segments, tibia of midleg with a silvery white oblique basal streak and white medial and apical rings, tarsal segments with indistinct white apical rings, tarsal segment five entirely whitish, tibia of hindleg as midleg, spurs white dorsally, brownish ventrally. Forewing shining dark brown with reddish gloss, four short and narrow white lines in the basal area, a subcostal from one-eighth to one-quarter, a very short and narrow second subcostal just inward of the transverse fascia, a medial from one-fifth to one-third, a subdorsal also from one-fifth, but slightly longer than the medial, a bright yellowish orange transverse fascia beyond the middle, narrowing towards dorsum on the outer edge, bordered at the inner edge by a tubercular pale golden metallic fascia with a small subcostal patch of blackish scales on the outside, bordered at the outer edge by two tubercular pale golden metallic costal and dorsal spots, the dorsal spot about twice as large as the costal and more towards base, both spots with an irregular dark brown inward lining, a white costal streak from the costal spot, the apical line as a silvery white spot in the middle of the apical area and a white streak in apical cilia, cilia dark brown, paler towards dorsum. Hindwing shining dark brownish grey, cilia dark brown. Underside: forewing shining dark greyish brown, hindwing shining dark greyish brown. Abdomen dorsally ochreous brown with greenish and purplish reflections, ventrally shining dark grey with golden gloss, segments banded ochreous white posteriorly, anal tuft dark greyish brown.