Family Cossidae (Cossid Moths, Carpenter Moths)

Description of Cossidae

The Cossidae are members of the Superfamily Cossoidea. They occur worldwide, with more than 670 described species. The greatest numbers are found in tropical regions. About 50 species in America north of Mexico, 75% of which are found on the western side of the continent. These moths are small to large and hawk moth-like, and are the largest of the "microlepidoptera," with wingspans from 2.5 to 8.5 cm. They are also referred to as "goat moths," "carpenterworms," or "leopard moths". Adults are robust and heavy-bodied, and are typically nocturnal, drab, and mostly gray with black markings. Females are often much larger than males. Eggs are usually laid in crevices or under bark with an extensible ovipositor, and may be produced in vast numbers. Larvae bore into branches or trunks of living shrubs or trees, sometimes causing considerable damage, and require 1 to 4 years to mature. Host plants include at least 17 families of angiosperms.

Subfamily: Cossinae (Cossines, carpenter moths)

Acossus centerensis Poplar Carpenterworm Moth (Lintner, 1877)

Acossus populi (Walker, 1856)

Acossus undosus (Lintner, 1878)

Comadia henrici (Grote, 1882)

Miacora perplexa (Neumoegen & Dyar, 1893)

Prionoxystus macmurtrei Little Carpenterworm Moth (Guérin, 1829)

Prionoxystus robiniae Carpenterworm Moth (Peck, 1818)

Subfamily: Cossulinae (Cossuline Moths)

Comadia bertholdi Lupine borer moth (Grote, 1880)

Cossula magnifica Pecan Carpenterworm Moth Strecker 1876

Subfamily: Hypoptinae (Hypoptine Moths)

Comadia manfredi (Neumoegen 1884)

Givira anna Anna Carpenterworm Moth (Dyar, 1898)

Givira arbeloides (Dyar, 1899)

Givira cleopatra (Barnes & McDunnough, 1912)

Givira francesca (Dyar, 1909)

Givira lotta Barnes & McDunnough, 1910

Givira lucretia (Barnes & McDunnough, 1913)

Givira marga Barnes & McDunnough, 1910

Givira mucida (Edwards, 1882)

Givira theodori (Dyar, 1893)

Hypopta palmata (Barnes & McDunnough, 1910)

Inguromorpha basalis Black-lined Carpenterworm Moth (Walker, 1856)

Inguromorpha itzalana (Strecker, 1900)

Subfamily: Zeuzerinae (Zeuzerine Moths)

Aramos ramosa (Schaus, 1892)

Morpheis clenchi (Donahue, 1980)

Zeuzera pyrina Leopard Moth (Linnaeus, 1761)

BAMONA Shop

New April 2025 Earth Day Special Release Shirts!

Please donate!

We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.

Advertise with us!

Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.

Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Description of Cossidae

Subfamily: Cossinae (Cossines, carpenter moths)

Subfamily: Cossulinae (Cossuline Moths)

Subfamily: Hypoptinae (Hypoptine Moths)

Subfamily: Zeuzerinae (Zeuzerine Moths)

New April 2025 Earth Day Special Release Shirts!

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Description of Cossidae

Photographs of Cossidae

Black-lined Carpenterworm Moth
Inguromorpha basalis

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Pecan Carpenterworm Moth
Cossula magnifica

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Anna Carpenterworm Moth
Givira anna

Poplar Carpenterworm Moth
Acossus centerensis

Pecan Carpenterworm Moth
Cossula magnifica

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Little Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus macmurtrei

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

About

Get Involved

Donate

Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Family Cossidae (Cossid Moths, Carpenter Moths)

Description of Cossidae

Subfamily: Cossinae (Cossines, carpenter moths)

Subfamily: Cossulinae (Cossuline Moths)

Subfamily: Hypoptinae (Hypoptine Moths)

Subfamily: Zeuzerinae (Zeuzerine Moths)

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Description of Cossidae

Photographs of Cossidae

Black-lined Carpenterworm MothInguromorpha basalis

Carpenterworm MothPrionoxystus robiniae

Carpenterworm MothPrionoxystus robiniae

Carpenterworm MothPrionoxystus robiniae

Pecan Carpenterworm MothCossula magnifica

Carpenterworm MothPrionoxystus robiniae

Anna Carpenterworm MothGivira anna

Poplar Carpenterworm MothAcossus centerensis

Pecan Carpenterworm MothCossula magnifica

Carpenterworm MothPrionoxystus robiniae

Little Carpenterworm MothPrionoxystus macmurtrei

Carpenterworm MothPrionoxystus robiniae

Black-lined Carpenterworm Moth
Inguromorpha basalis

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Pecan Carpenterworm Moth
Cossula magnifica

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Anna Carpenterworm Moth
Givira anna

Poplar Carpenterworm Moth
Acossus centerensis

Pecan Carpenterworm Moth
Cossula magnifica

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Little Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus macmurtrei

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae