Tehama

Hulst, 1888

western lawn moth (for sole species Tehama bonifatella)

Species Guides

Tehama bonifatella(Western Lawn Moth)

Tehama is a of in the Crambidae, established by George D. Hulst in 1888. The genus contains a single , Tehama bonifatella, commonly known as the western lawn moth. This small moth is distributed across northern North America, including Greenland, Canada, and the western United States, where it inhabits grassland . The larvae feed on grasses, making it one of the few crambid moths associated with lawn and turf .

Tehama bonifatella by (c) Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

- 5453 – Tehama bonifatella (16059621205) by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Tehama bonifatella (16059621205) by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tehama: /tɛˈhɑːmə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Grasslands; associated with lawns and turf where larval plants (grasses) occur.

Distribution

Greenland; North America: Alberta, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Labrador, Manitoba, Nevada, Quebec, and Washington.

Host Associations

grasses (Poaceae) - larval food plantLarvae feed on grasses, including lawn and turf grasses

Human Relevance

The sole Tehama bonifatella is occasionally encountered as a minor pest in lawns and turfgrass, where larval feeding on grass blades can cause localized damage. It is not considered a significant agricultural or economic pest.

Similar Taxa

other Crambidae grass moths (e.g., Crambus, Agriphila)Similar small size, grassland , and grass-feeding habits; requires genitalia examination or analysis for definitive identification
Tineidae (clothes moths)Superficially similar small size and coloration, but Tineidae have different wing venation and are not associated with grassland

More Details

Taxonomic history

The Tehama was established by George D. Hulst in 1888. It has remained since its description, with no additional assigned to the genus. The placement has shifted historically between Pyralidae and Crambidae, but modern molecular and morphological studies confirm placement in Crambidae.

Etymology

The name Tehama is derived from Tehama County, California, where the of Tehama bonifatella was collected. This follows a common practice in 19th-century American entomology of using geographic place names for new .