Species Cosmopterix molybdina - Hodges#1471

1471

Cosmopterix molybdina Hodges, 1962

FWL: 4.0-4.4 mm. (1)

C. molybdina may be recognized by the shining lead-colored pro- and mesothorax above, by the fused and shining lead-colored basal lines on the forewing, and by the distal part of the antenna having the color combination of four white segments preceded by five brown segments, four white segments, then brown segments. The transverse fascia on the forewing is yellow in eastern specimens and orange in western specimens and may be dusted with black scales (1)

Hodges examined specimens from Maine, Oregon, and California (1).

Type-locality: Bar Harbor, Maine [CU] (1).

The larva has been reared as a leaf miner on morning glory (Ipomoea spp.) (1).

Hodges believed that the geographic distribution of this species suggests that it has been introduced into North America. (1)

Cosmopterix nitens