Cosmopterigidae
Guides
Anatrachyntis
pink scavenger moths, pandanus flower moths
Anatrachyntis is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, established by Meyrick in 1915. The genus contains approximately 60 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with particularly high diversity in the Indo-Pacific region, Africa, and Australia. Some taxonomists include this genus within Pyroderces, though this classification remains disputed. Several species have documented ecological associations, including predation on spider eggs and herbivory on plants.
Anoncia aciculata
Anoncia aciculata is a species of moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, first described by Edward Meyrick in 1928. It is a small gelechioid moth known from limited records in the southwestern United States. The species belongs to a genus of moths whose larvae are often associated with plant material, though specific biology for this species remains poorly documented.
Anoncia leucoritis
Anoncia leucoritis is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Edward Meyrick in 1927. The species occurs in western North America, with larvae that specialize on plants in the genus Mentzelia. Its life cycle includes documented parasitism by the braconid wasp Bracon mellitor.
Anoncia venis
Anoncia venis is a small moth species in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald Hodges in 1978. The species is known from a limited geographic range in the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona and California. Like other members of the genus Anoncia, it likely has narrow, elongated forewings and a relatively plain appearance typical of many cosmet moths.
Cosmopterix nitens
Cosmopterix nitens is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, with adults measuring 3.8-4.5 mm in forewing length. The species is native to the southeastern and south-central United States, ranging from coastal South Carolina to southwestern Texas, with an established population in Michigan. Larvae are leaf miners on Phragmites australis (common reed), creating distinctive gallery mines 3-7 cm long. Adults are multivoltine in the southern part of their range but likely univoltine in Michigan, flying from March through October.
Cosmopterix quadrilineella
Cosmopterix quadrilineella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, first described by Chambers in 1878. The species is characterized by distinctive wing patterning with multiple white lines and metallic spots on bronze-brown forewings. Adults have a forewing length of approximately 4.2 mm. It is known from several southwestern and south-central U.S. states.
Cosmopterix teligera
Cosmopterix teligera is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, characterized by distinctive metallic markings on dark brown forewings. The species occurs from the southern United States through the Caribbean and into South America. Adults are active primarily during warmer months in temperate regions, with year-round activity likely in tropical areas.
Eralea
Eralea is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, established by Hodges in 1962. The genus contains at least two described species: Eralea abludo and Eralea albalineella (formerly also known as E. striata). Cosmopterigidae moths are generally small with narrow wings and often exhibit metallic or contrasting color patterns. The genus is part of the superfamily Gelechioidea, a diverse group of small moths commonly known as twirler moths or micromoths.
Eteobalea iridella
A small North American moth in the family Cosmopterigidae. Adults are active across most of the year, with records spanning February through October. The species has been documented in three western and southwestern U.S. states.
Eteobalea sexnotella
Eteobalea sexnotella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, native to North America. Adults are active from January and March through September, with a wingspan of approximately 17 mm. The species is notable for its larval association with two Trichostema plant species, where larvae develop within stem galls.
Eteobalea wyattella
Wyatt's Cosmet Moth, Wyatt's Stagmatophora Moth
Eteobalea wyattella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, originally described as Stagmatophora wyattella by Barnes and Busck in 1920. The species has been recorded from scattered localities across the eastern and central United States. It belongs to a genus of moths whose larvae are often associated with plant stems or seeds. The species remains poorly known in terms of its biology and immature stages.
Euclemensia schwarziella
A small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by August Busck in 1900 (published 1901). The species is known from Arizona and Texas. Its larvae are parasitoids of scale insects in the genera Kermes and Allokermes, making it one of relatively few moths with this specialized ecological strategy.
Melanocinclis vibex
Melanocinclis vibex is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, first described by Hodges in 1978. It is known only from Florida in North America. Adults have been recorded from May to July. The larvae possibly feed in the flowers of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens).
Perimede falcata
Perimede falcata is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Annette Frances Braun in 1919. It occurs across eastern North America from the Great Lakes region to the Gulf Coast. Adults are active year-round and are characterized by distinctive wing coloration.
Periploca
Periploca is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae. The genus was established by Braun in 1919. Larvae of at least one species, Periploca ceanothiella, have been documented as hosts for the ichneumonid parasitoid wasp Calliephialtes grapholithae.
Periploca cata
Periploca cata is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1962. It is known from a limited distribution in the central United States, specifically Illinois and Arkansas. The species has a documented association with Gymnosporangium galls on Juniperus species, where its larvae feed.
Periploca nigra
juniper twig girdler
Periploca nigra, commonly known as the juniper twig girdler, is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae. The species was described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1962. It is found across a broad range of the United States, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Southwest. The common name suggests an association with juniper, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pyroderces
cosmet moths
Pyroderces is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, subfamily Cosmopteriginae. The genus includes species with diverse ecological roles: some, such as Pyroderces rileyi, are agricultural pests of banana and other crops, while others have been identified as potential supplementary pollinators of oil palm in Malaysia. The genus was established by Herrich-Schäffer in 1853. Taxonomic boundaries remain fluid, with some authors including the genus Anatrachyntis within Pyroderces.
Sorhagenia
Sorhagenia is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, established by Spuler in 1910. The genus name honors Ludwig Friedrich Sorhagen, a German entomologist. It comprises approximately 16 described species distributed primarily across the Palearctic region, with some species also recorded from North America. The genus is taxonomically well-established within the superfamily Gelechioidea, though individual species remain poorly known in terms of their biology and ecology.
Stilbosis ostryaeella
ironwood leafminer moth, ironwood leafminer
Stilbosis ostryaeella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae. Its larvae are leafminers specialized on ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), creating distinctive blotch mines between leaf veins. The species is distributed across eastern North America, with adults active from late spring through summer. It overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter.
Stilbosis tesquella
Hog-peanut Leaf-sewer
Stilbosis tesquella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from 17 U.S. states and Quebec. The species is notable for its specialized larval diet on leguminous plants.
Stilbosis venifica
Stilbosis venifica is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1964. It is known from a limited number of records in the eastern and central United States. The species belongs to a genus whose members are generally associated with leaf-mining habits on woody plants.
Walshia
Walshia is a genus of small moths in the family Cosmopterigidae, established by Clemens in 1864. The genus contains at least 12 described species distributed in North America. At least one species, W. amorphella, is known to induce galls on its host plant, creating complex ecological microcommunities. Most species remain poorly studied beyond basic taxonomic descriptions.
Walshia amorphella
Walshia amorphella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1864. It is a gall-forming species that induces galls on the host plant Amorpha fruticosa. The species is known from the central United States, with records from Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Kansas, and Texas. Its gall-forming habit supports an associated microcommunity of other organisms.
Walshia dispar
Walshia dispar is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1961. It occurs in eastern North America from Ontario to Virginia. Adults are active during mid-summer. The species is known from very few observations.