Acrolophidae
Guides
Acrolophus
Grass Tubeworm Moths
Acrolophus is a genus of moths in the family Acrolophidae, originally described by Felipe Poey in 1832. The genus was formerly classified in the family Tineidae (clothes moths) but has been reassigned to Acrolophidae based on revised phylogenetic understanding. Species in this genus are commonly known as "grass tube moths" or "grass tubeworm moths" due to the distinctive larval behavior of spinning silken tubes at the base of grasses or around grass roots for concealment while feeding. The genus exhibits exceptional individual variation in color pattern within species, rendering field identification of many specimens difficult or impossible without dissection or molecular analysis.
Acrolophus
grass tube moths
Acrolophus is a genus of moths in the family Acrolophidae, commonly known as "grass tube moths." The family was formerly placed in Tineidae (clothes moths and kin) but has been reclassified based on updated evolutionary relationships. Larvae of many species construct silken tubes at the base of grasses or grass roots for concealment while feeding.
Acrolophus arizonellus
Acrolophus arizonellus is a moth species in the family Acrolophidae, first described by Walsingham in 1887. It belongs to a genus commonly known as "grass tube moths" due to the larval habit of spinning silken tubes at the base of grasses. The species is documented from the southwestern United States.
Acrolophus bicornutus
Acrolophus bicornutus is a small moth species in the family Acrolophidae, described by Hasbrouck in 1964. It is known only from Florida. The wingspan measures approximately 13 mm. Like other members of the genus Acrolophus, it is commonly referred to as a "grass tube moth" due to larval habits of spinning silken tubes at grass bases or roots.
Acrolophus cockerelli
Acrolophus cockerelli is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, historically classified in Tineidae. The species occurs in the southwestern and western United States. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 17 mm. Larvae of Acrolophus species are known as "grass tube moths" for their habit of spinning silken tubes at grass bases or roots.
Acrolophus furcatus
Acrolophus furcatus is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Lord Walsingham in 1887. The species is known from arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, with records from Arizona, California, and Texas. Like other members of the genus, it is commonly referred to as a 'grass tubeworm moth' due to larval behavior. The family Acrolophidae was historically treated as a subfamily of Tineidae but is now recognized as distinct.
Acrolophus griseus
Grass Tube Moth
Acrolophus griseus is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Lord Walsingham in 1887. It belongs to a genus commonly known as 'grass tube moths' due to the larval habit of spinning silken tubes at grass bases or roots for concealment while feeding. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It was historically classified in the family Tineidae but has been reassigned to Acrolophidae based on phylogenetic studies.
Acrolophus griseus capitatus
A subspecies of grass tube moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Hasbrouck in 1964. Acrolophus species are characterized by caterpillars that construct silken tubes at the base of grasses or grass roots for concealment while feeding. The family Acrolophidae was historically placed within Tineidae but is now recognized as distinct. This subspecies belongs to a genus commonly encountered during moth surveys and blacklighting events in North America.
Acrolophus griseus griseus
Acrolophus griseus griseus is a subspecies of grass tube moth in the family Acrolophidae. The genus Acrolophus was historically placed in the family Tineidae but has been reclassified to Acrolophidae based on modern phylogenetic studies. Members of this genus are known as "grass tube moths" due to larval behavior of spinning silken tubes at grass bases or roots for concealment while feeding. This subspecies represents a distinct population within the widespread species A. griseus.
Acrolophus heppneri
Heppner's Grass Tubeworm Moth
Acrolophus heppneri is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Donald R. Davis in 1990. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. It belongs to a genus commonly known as "grass tubeworm moths" due to larval behavior. Adult wingspan measures approximately 17 mm.
Acrolophus laticapitana
Grass Tube Moth
Acrolophus laticapitana is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Walsingham in 1884. The species is found in western North America from northern California to southern Arizona. Adults have forewings measuring 6.5–9.5 mm in length. Like other members of the genus, it is commonly known as a "grass tube moth" due to larval behavior. The species includes two recognized subspecies: the nominate form and A. l. unistriganus described by Dyar in 1903.
Acrolophus mora
dark acrolophus
Acrolophus mora is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, commonly known as the dark acrolophus. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. It occurs across eastern North America from Quebec to Florida and west to the Mississippi River drainage. Sexual dimorphism is present in wingspan, with males measuring approximately 20 mm and females approximately 26 mm.
Acrolophus mortipennella
Long-horned Grass Tubeworm Moth
Acrolophus mortipennella is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1872. It belongs to a genus commonly known as "grass tube moths" due to larval behavior of spinning silken tubes at grass bases or roots. The species occurs across the southeastern and central United States, with adults active during summer months. It is attracted to ultraviolet light sources at night.
Acrolophus mycetophagus
Frilly Grass Tubeworm Moth
A small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Donald R. Davis in 1990. The common name "Frilly Grass Tubeworm Moth" reflects its membership in a genus whose larvae construct silken tubes at grass bases or roots. The species occurs in the southeastern United States and has a wingspan of 16–17 mm.
Acrolophus occidens
grass tube moth
A species of grass tube moth in the family Acrolophidae. The genus Acrolophus was formerly placed in the family Tineidae (clothes moths) but has been reclassified based on updated taxonomy. Like other members of the genus, the caterpillars are known as "grass tube moths" for their habit of spinning silken tubes at the base of grasses or grass roots for concealment while feeding. Adults are attracted to blacklights and ultraviolet light sources.
Acrolophus popeanella
Clemens' Grass Tubeworm Moth
Acrolophus popeanella is a moth in the family Acrolophidae, commonly known as Clemens' Grass Tubeworm Moth. The species was described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1859. Adults are small moths with distinctive dark brown wings marked with lighter brown blotches and a striped pattern near the forewing margins. The larvae are root-feeders, specifically documented to feed on red clover (Trifolium pratense). The species is widely distributed across the eastern and central United States, occurring in diverse habitats from grasslands to urban environments.
Acrolophus quadrellus
Acrolophus quadrellus is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. The species belongs to a genus commonly known as "grass tubeworm moths" due to larval behavior of spinning silken tubes at grass bases or roots. It is recorded from Arizona and broader North America, though specific details about its biology remain limited.
Acrolophus simulatus
Acrolophus simulatus is a species of moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Walsingham in 1882. It is one of many species in the genus commonly known as "grass tube moths" due to larval behavior. The species is documented from North America, with records from Florida and Texas. Like other members of Acrolophus, it is presumed to have larvae that construct silken tubes at the base of grasses or grass roots for concealment while feeding.
Acrolophus spilotus
Spotted Grass Tubeworm Moth
Acrolophus spilotus is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, described by Donald R. Davis in 1990. It is one of many 'grass tubeworm moths' in the genus Acrolophus, a group whose caterpillars spin silken tubes at the base of grasses or grass roots for concealment while feeding. The species is known from a limited distribution in the southeastern United States.
Acrolophus texanella
Texas Grass Tubeworm Moth, Grass Tubeworm
Acrolophus texanella, commonly known as the Texas Grass Tubeworm Moth, is a small moth species in the family Acrolophidae. The species was formerly classified in the family Tineidae but has been reassigned to Acrolophidae based on revised taxonomic understanding. Like other members of its genus, it is known as a "grass tube moth" due to the larval habit of spinning silken tubes at the base of grasses. The species is found across the eastern and southern United States, from Maryland to Florida and west to Texas.
Acrolophus walsinghami
Acrolophus walsinghami is a small moth in the family Acrolophidae, first described by Möschler in 1890. The genus Acrolophus, commonly known as "grass tube moths," includes species whose larvae construct silken tubes at grass bases or roots for concealment while feeding. Adults are attracted to light and have been documented during moth surveys in late summer. The species has undergone taxonomic reclassification, formerly placed in the family Tineidae before being moved to Acrolophidae.