Cosmopterix thelxinoe
Encyclopedia
Cosmopterix thelxinoe is a moth
of the Cosmopterigidae
family. It is known from Brazil
(Distrito Federal) and the United States
(North Carolina
).
Adults have been recorded in March and April.
Male, female. Forewing length 3.5 mm. Head: frons shining greyish white with greenish and reddish reflections, vertex and neck tufts dark brown with reddish gloss, laterally and medially lined white, collar dark brown; labial palpus first segment very short, white, second segment three-quarters of the length of third, brown with white longitudinal lines laterally and ventrally, third segment white, lined brown laterally; scape dorsally dark brown with a white anterior line, white ventrally, antenna shining dark brown, a white line from base to one-sixth, changing into an interrupted line to beyond one-half, followed towards apex by a white-lined section of approximately five segments, five dark brown, four white, two dark brown, two white, ten dark brown and seven white segments at apex. Thorax and tegulae dark brown with reddish gloss, thorax with a white median line, tegulae lined white inwardly. Legs: greyish brown with reddish gloss, femora of midleg and hindleg shining pale greyish ochreous, foreleg with a white line on tibia and tarsal segments one to three and five, tibia of midleg with white oblique basal and medial lines and a white apical ring, tarsal segments one, two and four with white apical rings, segment five entirely white, tibia of hindleg as midleg but with an additional broad greyish white subapical ring, tarsal segments one to three with white apical rings, segments four and five entirely white, spurs whitish, inner spurs greyish at base. Forewing dark brown with reddish gloss, four white lines in the basal area, a subcostal from base to one-quarter, slightly bending from costa distally, a short and straight medial above fold from one-fifth to one-third, a similar subdorsal below fold, slightly further from base than the medial, an indistinct dorsal from beyond base to one-fifth, a broad yellow transverse fascia beyond the middle with a small apical protrusion, bordered at the inner edge by two united pale golden metallic tubercular spots, forming a fascia not reaching the costa, edged by a small patch of blackish brown scales subcostally on the outside, bordered at the outer edge by two similarly coloured costal and dorsal spots, the dorsal spot three times as large as the costal and slightly more towards base, both spots inwardly lined dark brown, a white costal streak from the outer costal spot, a shining white apical line from beyond the apical protrusion, cilia dark brown around apex, paler towards dorsum. Hindwing shining dark brownish grey, cilia brown. Underside: forewing shining greyish brown, the white costal streak indistinctly and the white apical line in the cilia at apex distinctly visible, hindwing shining brownish grey. Abdomen dorsally yellowish brown, segments banded greyish brown posteriorly, ventrally shining yellowish white, anal tuft yellowish white.
, a moon of Jupiter
. To be treated as a noun in apposition.
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...
(Distrito Federal) and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(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...
).
Adults have been recorded in March and April.
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 3.5 mm. Head: frons shining greyish white with greenish and reddish reflections, vertex and neck tufts dark brown with reddish gloss, laterally and medially lined white, collar dark brown; labial palpus first segment very short, white, second segment three-quarters of the length of third, brown with white longitudinal lines laterally and ventrally, third segment white, lined brown laterally; scape dorsally dark brown with a white anterior line, white ventrally, antenna shining dark brown, a white line from base to one-sixth, changing into an interrupted line to beyond one-half, followed towards apex by a white-lined section of approximately five segments, five dark brown, four white, two dark brown, two white, ten dark brown and seven white segments at apex. Thorax and tegulae dark brown with reddish gloss, thorax with a white median line, tegulae lined white inwardly. Legs: greyish brown with reddish gloss, femora of midleg and hindleg shining pale greyish ochreous, foreleg with a white line on tibia and tarsal segments one to three and five, tibia of midleg with white oblique basal and medial lines and a white apical ring, tarsal segments one, two and four with white apical rings, segment five entirely white, tibia of hindleg as midleg but with an additional broad greyish white subapical ring, tarsal segments one to three with white apical rings, segments four and five entirely white, spurs whitish, inner spurs greyish at base. Forewing dark brown with reddish gloss, four white lines in the basal area, a subcostal from base to one-quarter, slightly bending from costa distally, a short and straight medial above fold from one-fifth to one-third, a similar subdorsal below fold, slightly further from base than the medial, an indistinct dorsal from beyond base to one-fifth, a broad yellow transverse fascia beyond the middle with a small apical protrusion, bordered at the inner edge by two united pale golden metallic tubercular spots, forming a fascia not reaching the costa, edged by a small patch of blackish brown scales subcostally on the outside, bordered at the outer edge by two similarly coloured costal and dorsal spots, the dorsal spot three times as large as the costal and slightly more towards base, both spots inwardly lined dark brown, a white costal streak from the outer costal spot, a shining white apical line from beyond the apical protrusion, cilia dark brown around apex, paler towards dorsum. Hindwing shining dark brownish grey, cilia brown. Underside: forewing shining greyish brown, the white costal streak indistinctly and the white apical line in the cilia at apex distinctly visible, hindwing shining brownish grey. Abdomen dorsally yellowish brown, segments banded greyish brown posteriorly, ventrally shining yellowish white, anal tuft yellowish white.
Etymology
The species is named after ThelxinoeThelxinoe (moon)
Thelxinoe , also known as ', is a natural satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S...
, a moon of Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
. To be treated as a noun in apposition.