Cosmopterigidae

Chrysoesthia drurella

The splendor butterfly ( Cosmopterigidae ) are a family of butterflies (Lepidoptera ). They are found worldwide with about 1,600 species. Across Europe, far described 80 species, of which 25 species occur in Central Europe. The moths are closely related to the Palpenmotten ( Gelechiidae ), with which they are in a sister relationship. Their main area of ​​distribution are the tropics.

  • 4.1 Notes and references
  • 4.2 External links

Features

The moths have a narrow and elongated body and narrow wings. The hind wings are usually narrower and sometimes pointed. The front wings are usually vividly colored and sometimes also have metallic -colored areas on. They have long fringes on the wing inner sides. Your threadlike antennae are about as long as the forewing. Their proboscis is well developed. The penis ( aedeagus ) of the males is hardened and clearly asymmetric.

Way of life

The largely nocturnal moths live in open and loosely -covered areas, such as meadows, along roadsides and in open woods. There are few diurnal species that can not be attracted by light at night. In rest position, the hind legs are characteristic applied to the slightly uplifted abdomen. One can sometimes observe when prancing in a circle on leaves, especially on their food plants.

Food of the caterpillars

The caterpillars feed mostly as leaf miners in bark and leaves, but also in plant galls or of flowers and ovules. The food spectrum of splendor moth encloses more than 35 plant families, but most species feed on grasses ( Poaceae ) and Leguminosae ( Fabaceae ). Some tropical occurring caterpillars feed on decaying plant material, some species feed on carrion. The moths of the genus Hyposmocoma, such as living in Hawaii Hyposmocoma molluscivora are predatory. They catch their prey ( snails) by keeping them bound with spun silk.

Systematics ( Europe)

Swell

Glossata Gelechioidea Pancalia schwarzella Cosmopterix athesiae Cosmopterix zieglerella Eteobalea anonymella Eteobalea intermediella Pyroderces tethysella Pyroderces wolschrijni Vulcaniella extremella Vulcaniella gielisi Vulcaniella rosmarinella
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