Moths of North Carolina
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Cosmosoma Members:
1 NC Records

Cosmosoma myrodora (Dyar, 1907) - Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth

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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930458 MONA Number: 8280.00
Comments: One of three species in this genus that occur in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010) and the only one recorded in our area
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: (Not in Forbes, 1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Striking and unmistakable, at least if recognized as a moth rather than a wasp. The legs, thorax, and anterior half of the abdomen are a bright scarlet, with the head and the posterior portion of the abdomen an iridescent, metallic blue-black; wings are mainly wasp-like, being largely transparent with black veins and tips.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are covered with white hair and possess yellowish head and legs (Wagner, 2005).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Only recorded at a single spot along the outer coast
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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Flight Comments: Only recorded once, in the fall
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found once at Jockeys Ridge State Park, where Climbing Hempweed is known to occur (NRID, 2014).
Larval Host Plants: Monophagous, feeding on Climbing Hempweed (Mikania scandens) (Covell, 1984; Wagner, 2005). - View
Observation Methods: Diurnally active, feeding on flowers; not known how well it comes to light or bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [G5SU]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Although apparently very rare in the state, the residency status of this species in North Carolina needs to be established before its conservation needs can be assessed.