Cossidae

Definition

A family of large nocturnal moths (order Lepidoptera) commonly called carpenter millers or cossid millers, characterized by robust bodies and larvae that bore into wood. The family comprises over 110 genera and nearly 700 described species distributed worldwide, with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Larvae of many species are serious pests of living trees, timber, and wooden structures; adults typically lack functional mouthparts and do not feed.

Etymology

From Cossus (type genus, from Greek kossos, a kind of worm or wood-boring insect) + -idae (family suffix)

Example

The goat moth Cossus cossus (Cossidae) is a widespread Palearctic species whose caterpillars tunnel extensively in the heartwood of broadleaf trees, sometimes requiring several years to complete development.

Synonyms

• cossid millers
• carpenter millers

Related Terms

• Lepidoptera
• Cossoidea
• Ratardinae
• Zeuzerinae
• Cossus
• wood-boring larvae
• millers

Usage Notes

Use Cossidae for the formal family name; common names "carpenter millers" or "cossid millers" are preferred in field contexts. The family is placed in superfamily Cossoidea within the suborder Glossata. The Southeast Asian subfamily Ratardinae is exceptional in containing diurnal species. Many cossid larvae are economically significant forest and urban pests; their common name "carpenter" refers to this wood-boring habit, not to any relationship with bees or other hymenopterans.