#cosmopterigidae

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

bone collecting caterpillars, one of my all time favorite critters?

When looking for information on these guys not a single source I could find actually said the full scientific name of the species! If anyone does know it, let me know. I'll just do a poll on the full genus, which contains more than 350 members.

Have you seen a member of the Genus Hyposmocoma?

I have now

Yes, in photos/videos

Yes, irl

I'm not sure

Voting ended onApr 16

Larvae of this genus are commonly referred to as Hawaiian fancy case caterpillars, but since I couldn't get any pictures of larvae from iNaturalist, I've just listed them by genus name. The photos are of Hyposmocoma cryptogamiella & Hyposmocoma alliterata, respectively.

[razehider]

this is Cosmopterix, also known as a cosmet moth whatever that means, and the reason why you can probably barely make out any features is because it's likely the smallest moth i've seen in my life. i would never have noticed it if it wasn't doing this stupid fucking dance on a leaf. maybe it's a courtship thing, or looking for a place to oviposit? i know they're leaf miners, it wouldn't be impossible

i promise to you that this is a multicellular organism, specifically a moth. i know it doesn't look like one. it doesn't look like anything. but it is one

(September 1st, 2024)

[drhoz]

#3659 - Fam. Elachistidae - Grass Miner

Leptozestis, probably.

Small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, with perhaps 3,300 species in eight subfamilies, but the family requires savage reorganisation since is almost certainly wildly paraphyletic. Only 3 of the genera are likely to remain. If this IS a Leptozestis, some authors have already moved it to the Cosmopterigidae.

As suggested by the common name, most Elachistids are leaf and stem miners of grass.

Naragebup - Rockingham Regional Environment Centre, Perth

[rattyexplores]

Various moths spotted at a community garden.

Stathmopodinae species - Opogona species

Xestocasis balanochrysa - Actually a Hemipteran insect upon recent review

18/12/21

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

Teeny, tiny Cosmet moth, Cosmopterix sp.

[drhoz]

#2070 - Otonoma sp.

Cosmet Moths are small narrow-winged moths whose tiny caterpillars feed inside the stems, leaves and seeds of their preferred host plant. The majority of the 1500-odd species are native to Australia and the Pacific.

Belconnen, ACT