MOTHS OF BELIZE
SPECIES LISTS BY FAMILY
2. Cossidae
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The Cossidae ('Leopard Moths') are a family of about 700 species worldwide.
Adult Cossids have long, thin wings and long, heavy bodies with wingspans ranging
from 20 mm to 80 mm. Wing ground-colour tends to be off-white with dark markings
consisting of patterns of swirls or dots or both, with an overall uniquely 'greasy'
appearance. Males have antennae which are pectinate ('feathery') at the base and
filiform ('thread-like') at the end, whereas in females the antennae are filiform
along their entire length. The larvae are wood-borers, taking several years
to develop and often causing considerable damage to living trees and tree crops.
The genera of this family worldwide have been revised and monographed by Schoorl
(1990) and a species catalogue for the 282 described neotropical species
has been made by Donahue
in Heppner (1995).
I have taken three species of this family in Belize so far, as listed below -
please click on any underlined species names to go to a colour
illustration of the adult
(and sometimes its genitalia) and brief information on
the species.
Morpheis pyracmon Cramer 1780
Langsdorfia sp. indet.
Genus & species indet.
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