Ephestiodes infimella

Ragonot, 1887

Reddish Ephestiodes Moth

Ephestiodes infimella is a small pyralid described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1887. Native to eastern North America, it ranges from Maryland to Florida, west to Texas, and north to southern Ontario. The has been introduced to Hawaii. are active from June to September in Maryland, with a wingspan of approximately 11 mm.

Ephestiodes infimella by (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block. Used under a CC-BY license.Ephestiodes infimella 01 by CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC0 license.Ephestiodes infimella P1120538a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ephestiodes infimella: /ɛfɛstiˈoʊdiːz ɪnfɪˈmɛlə/

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

Identification

Small pyralid with 11 mm wingspan. Distinguished from by geographic range and ; active June through September in Maryland. Specific diagnostic features separating it from similar Ephestiodes such as E. gilvescentella are not documented in available sources.

Images

Appearance

Small with wingspan approximately 11 mm. The specific coloration and pattern details are not documented in available sources.

Distribution

Native to eastern North America: Maryland to Florida, west to Texas, north to southern Ontario. Introduced and established in Hawaii.

Seasonality

on wing from June to September in Maryland. Specific period data for other parts of the range are not documented.

Behavior

Attracted to ultraviolet light sources, as is typical for . Specific behavioral observations are not documented.

Similar Taxa

  • Ephestiodes gilvescentellaCongeneric in same ; distinguished by (dusky raisin ), broader distribution including western North America, and larval association with dried fruits and nuts. E. infimella is smaller (11 mm vs. larger size in E. gilvescentella) and restricted to eastern North America.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The Ephestiodes belongs to Phycitinae within Pyralidae. Several , including E. gilvescentella, are known stored-product pests, but no such association has been documented for E. infimella.

Sources and further reading