Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFCosmopterigidae Members: Cosmopterix Members: 2 NC Records

Cosmopterix nitens (Walsingham, 1889) - No Common Name

Cosmopterix nitensCosmopterix nitensCosmopterix nitensCosmopterix nitens
Taxonomy
Family:
Cosmopterigidae		Subfamily:
Cosmopteriginae		P3 Number:
59a0352		 MONA Number:
1469.00
Comments: We suspect that specimens that currently are recognized as C. nitens may be members of a species complex. Members of this group are distinctive in having the yellowish-orange fascia (patch) on the forewing divided longitudinally by a thick black line, but differ in the antennal banding. Cosmopterix nitens as described by Koster (2010) has five terminal white segments that are followed by 14 dark segments, then two white segments. However, specimens in North Carolina, and at certain other localities in the Southeast, often differ in having two white terminal segments that are followed by 7-8 dark segments, then two white segments. The two white segments are sometimes followed by two dark segments and an additional one or two white segments, so that there are 1-3 narrow white bands that are basal to the dark portion with 7-8 segments. There are some other differences, such as the fact that the anal line that extends from the orangish, middle fascia towards the apex is missing or poorly developed in what may be an undescribed species, but well-developed in true C. nitens. Members of this group were first found in North Carolina by Jeff Niznik in 2024 in Orange County and have since been found at a site in Richmond County. Cosmopterix nitens has been reported to specialize on Phragmites, but members of this genus do not occur at sites where we have collected specimens that we are currently recognizing as C. nitens. Until additional taxonomic studies are completed that address variation in this species, we continue to treat all for now as C. nitens.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Structural photos
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Cosmopterix nitensAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants:
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Cosmopterix nitens - No common name

Photos: 5
Cosmopterix nitensRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
Comment: Specimen was dissected (female). 		Cosmopterix nitensRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Cosmopterix nitensRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Cosmopterix nitensRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment:
Cosmopterix nitensRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment: