Crambid-moth
Guides
Achyra bifidalis
Achyra bifidalis is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of 20–24 mm, distributed across the Americas from the southern United States through South America. The species was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. Larvae feed on Gossypium (cotton) and Portulaca species.
Alatuncusia bergii
Berg's alatuncusia moth
Alatuncusia bergii is a small crambid moth described by Möschler in 1890. It occurs in the Caribbean region and southern Florida, where adults fly from July through December. The larvae feed exclusively on Capparis cynophallophora, a caper family shrub.
Anania hortulata
Small Magpie
Anania hortulata, commonly known as the small magpie, is a crambid moth with a wingspan of 24–28 mm. It is found across Asia, Europe, and North America, where it is considered exotic in Canada and the United States. The species was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 and has undergone several taxonomic revisions, having been placed in Phalaena, Eurrhypara, and Pyralis before its current classification.
Blepharomastix pseudoranalis
Blepharomastix pseudoranalis is a small crambid moth described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1914. It is known from limited records in Arizona, with adults active during mid-summer. The species is characterized by pale ochreous wings with brown scaling and dark forewing lines.
Choristostigma elegantalis
Choristostigma elegantalis is a small crambid moth described by Warren in 1892. It is known from the western United States, with confirmed records from Arizona, California, and Washington. Adults are active from spring through early autumn, with forewings measuring 9–11.5 mm in length. The species exhibits distinctive pale yellow forewings marked with tawny patterns and yellowish-white hindwings with a dark central spot.
Choristostigma plumbosignalis
Choristostigma plumbosignalis is a small crambid moth described by Charles H. Fernald in 1888. The species is distributed across western and central North America, from British Columbia and Alberta south to Arizona and New Mexico, and east to South Dakota. Adults have a wingspan of 20–21 mm and are active during summer months.
Cliniodes ostreonalis
oystershell metrea moth
Cliniodes ostreonalis is a small crambid moth originally described by Grote in 1882 as Metrea ostreonalis. A 1964 taxonomic revision by Munroe restricted the genus Metrea to this single species, though it was later transferred to Cliniodes. The species occurs in eastern North America with over 300 citizen science observations. It is commonly known as the oystershell metrea moth, though the etymology of this common name remains unclear.
Conchylodes octonalis
Eight-barred Lygropia Moth
Conchylodes octonalis, described by Zeller in 1873, is a small snout moth in the family Crambidae. It occurs across western and central North America in low-elevation arid environments. The species is named for the eight dark transverse bars on its wings. Adults are active from late March through October, and larvae feed on Heliotropium curassavicum.
Conchylodes ovulalis
Zebra Conchylodes Moth
Conchylodes ovulalis, commonly known as the Zebra Conchylodes Moth, is a small crambid moth notable for its striking black-and-white striped wing pattern. The species was described by Guenée in 1854 and occurs across a broad range from the eastern United States through Mexico and Central America to northern South America. Adults are frequently attracted to artificial light sources and are most commonly encountered during summer months. The distinctive zebra-striped coloration is presumed to function in camouflage, though experimental evidence for this is lacking.
Diaphania elegans
Diaphania elegans is a crambid moth described by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1890. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length, with males measuring 11–14 mm and females 12.5–15 mm. It has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, southern Texas, and much of South America. Larvae have been documented feeding on flowers of Cucurbita maxima.
Diaphania lualis
Diaphania lualis is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 19 mm. It occurs in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the southern United States. Adults have been documented in Florida during two distinct periods: September through January and May through June.
Diathrausta harlequinalis
Harlequin Webworm Moth
A small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 13 mm, found across much of North America from southern Canada through the United States to Mexico. Adults are active during most of the growing season, with records spanning March through October. The species comprises four recognized subspecies.
Diathrausta reconditalis
Recondite Webworm Moth
Diathrausta reconditalis is a small crambid moth first described by Francis Walker in 1859. It occurs across eastern and central North America, with records spanning from Ontario south to Florida and west to Arizona and Oklahoma. The species is characterized by dark wings with distinctive greenish iridescence and three white forewing spots. It is one of several webworm moths in the genus Diathrausta, a group whose larvae construct silk webbing on host plants.
Dicymolomia metalliferalis
Dusky-patched Dicymolomia
Dicymolomia metalliferalis is a small crambid moth of western North America, described by Packard in 1873. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 16 mm. The species is notable for larval specialization on decaying lupine seed pods.
Epipagis disparilis
Epipagis disparilis is a moth in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. It was described by Dyar in 1910. The species is known from a limited geographic range in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Based on iNaturalist records, it has been documented from at least 16 observations.
Eudonia albertalis
Eudonia albertalis is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1928 (published 1929). The species is restricted to montane and boreal regions of western North America, with records spanning from Alberta and British Columbia southward through Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 18 mm. The specific epithet refers to Alberta, the type locality.
Evergestis
Evergestis is a genus of crambid moths established by Jacob Hübner in 1825. Species within this genus are distributed across the Palaearctic region, with some exhibiting highly disjunct, fragmented distributions. Several species are documented agricultural pests of cruciferous crops, including E. rimosalis (cross-striped cabbageworm) and E. forficalis. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with new species described from Central Asia and Iran.
Evergestis triangulalis
Evergestis triangulalis is a small crambid moth described in 1914, known from the southwestern United States. Adults display distinctive wing patterning with brown-scaled forewings and pale smoky hindwings. The species exhibits an unusually extended adult activity period spanning most of the year.
Evergestis unimacula
Large-spotted Evergestis Moth
Evergestis unimacula is a species of crambid moth known as the Large-spotted Evergestis Moth. The species was described by Grote and Robinson in 1867. Its specific epithet refers to the Latin 'unimacula' meaning 'one spot', likely referencing a distinctive marking on the forewing. The species is recorded from the eastern and central United States and adjacent Canada.
Fissicrambus haytiellus
Carpet-grass Webworm Moth
Fissicrambus haytiellus, commonly known as the carpet-grass webworm moth, is a species in the family Crambidae. First described by Zincken in 1821, it is currently treated as a synonym of Fissicrambus fissiradiellus in some taxonomic databases. The species occurs in the Caribbean and southeastern United States.
Glaphyria fulminalis
Black-patched Glaphyria Moth
Glaphyria fulminalis, commonly known as the Black-patched Glaphyria Moth, is a small crambid moth described by Julius Lederer in 1863. It is native to the eastern United States, where it occurs from New England south to Florida and westward to Texas and the Midwest. Adults are active during the summer months and are characterized by their small size and distinctive wing patterning.
Hahncappsia mancalis
Common Hahncappsia Moth
Hahncappsia mancalis is a small crambid moth described by Julius Lederer in 1863. It has a wingspan of approximately 18 mm and is distributed across eastern and southern North America, extending into Central America. The larvae feed on a diverse range of host plants including pigweed, mint, morning glory, tobacco, and dock.
Hahncappsia neomarculenta
Hahncappsia neomarculenta is a crambid moth described by Hahn William Capps in 1967. The species is endemic to the eastern United States, with records from six states in the Appalachian and mid-Atlantic regions. Adults are active during late spring and early summer.
Haimbachia floridalis
Haimbachia floridalis is a small crambid moth described by Hahn William Capps in 1965. It is known only from Florida, where adults have been recorded in early spring. The species is poorly studied, with limited observational data available.
Heliothelopsis unicoloralis
Heliothelopsis unicoloralis is a small crambid moth described in 1914. It is known from a single U.S. state (Arizona) with limited collection records. The species exhibits distinctive dark coloration with subtle metallic and light speckling.
Helvibotys helvialis
Helvibotys helvialis is a crambid moth described by Francis Walker in 1859. It is widespread across North America, ranging from California to Florida and northward to eastern Canada and the Midwest. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in wingspan, with males slightly larger than females. Larvae are associated with amaranths and beets.
Hileithia magualis
Magician Moth
Hileithia magualis is a crambid moth commonly known as the Magician Moth, described by Guenée in 1854. It occurs in the southern United States and the Caribbean, with substantial observational records from citizen science platforms. The species belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized pyraloid moths, though detailed natural history information remains limited in published literature.
Lipocosma sicalis
Brown-banded Lipocosma Moth
Lipocosma sicalis is a small crambid moth distributed across eastern and central North America. The species was described by Francis Walker in 1859 based on a specimen originally placed in the genus Leucinodes. Adults are active from spring through mid-summer and are characterized by a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. The common name 'Brown-banded Lipocosma Moth' reflects distinctive patterning on the wings.
Loxocrambus coloradellus
A small crambid moth described by Charles H. Fernald in 1893. Adults are active in late spring and mid-summer, with a wingspan of 17–22 mm. Known from limited records in California and Colorado.
Loxostege anartalis
Loxostege anartalis is a small crambid moth described by Grote in 1877. It has a transcontinental distribution across Canada and extends south to California in the western United States. The species exhibits notable geographic variation, with five recognized subspecies. Adults are active in spring and early summer, and the species is known to be a host for the mason wasp Euodynerus annulatus.
Loxostegopsis merrickalis
Merrick's Crambid Moth, Merrick's pyralid moth
Loxostegopsis merrickalis is a small crambid moth native to North America. The species was described in 1918 and is known from a broad geographic range spanning much of the United States and southern Canada. It is relatively well-documented, with thousands of observations recorded.
Mesolia incertellus
Mesolia incertellus is a small crambid moth described by Zincken in 1821. It is known from the southeastern United States, with records from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Illinois. The species exhibits nearly year-round adult activity in Florida, suggesting adaptation to subtropical conditions. Its small size and broad seasonal presence distinguish it from many temperate moth species.
Microcausta flavipunctalis
Rusty Microcausta Moth
Microcausta flavipunctalis is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm. It occurs in the Caribbean region and southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Adults are active primarily during winter and spring months, with flight records spanning December through May and October.
Microcrambus croesus
Microcrambus croesus is a species of grass moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Polish lepidopterist Stanisław Błeszyński in 1967. The species occurs in southern North America, with records from Mexico and parts of the south-central United States.
Microcrambus kimballi
Kimball's Grass-veneer
Microcrambus kimballi is a small grass-veneer moth in the family Crambidae, described by Alexander Barrett Klots in 1968. It is found in the southeastern and eastern United States, with records from nine states ranging from Maryland to Texas. The species has a wingspan of 14 mm and exhibits extended adult activity from February through November.
Mojaviodes blanchardae
Mojaviodes blanchardae is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is the sole member of the monotypic genus Mojaviodes. The species was described by Munroe in 1972 and is known from Texas in North America. Very few observations of this species exist, with only four documented records.
Munroeodes thalesalis
Munroeodes thalesalis is a moth species in the family Crambidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1859. It belongs to the subfamily Pyraustinae. The species is known from Honduras, with limited published information available regarding its biology and ecology.
Neohelvibotys arizonensis
Neohelvibotys arizonensis is a small crambid moth described by H.W. Capps in 1967. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with a wingspan of 20–24 mm. Adults are active during summer months, with flight periods varying by latitude and elevation.
Neohelvibotys neohelvialis
Common Caramel Moth
Neohelvibotys neohelvialis, commonly known as the Common Caramel Moth, is a small crambid moth described by Hahn William Capps in 1967. It is widely distributed across the southeastern and southwestern United States, the West Indies, and from Mexico to Panama. Adults are active during summer months with a wingspan of 18–23 mm.
Nephrogramma separata
Three-spotted Kidney Moth
Nephrogramma separata is a small crambid moth known as the Three-spotted Kidney Moth. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The species has a forewing length of 8–10 mm and is active as an adult from July through September. It belongs to the subfamily Glaphyriinae within the family Crambidae.
Noctueliopsis bububattalis
Tawny Bantam
Noctueliopsis bububattalis is a small crambid moth native to southwestern North America. It was first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. Adults are active in early spring and can be recognized by their distinctive dark maroon-brown forewings with white transverse lines. The species is commonly known as the Tawny Bantam.
Petrophila schaefferalis
Schaeffer's Petrophila
Petrophila schaefferalis is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1906. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with females notably larger than males. Adults are active from spring through early autumn. The larvae are aquatic, a characteristic shared with other members of the genus Petrophila. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Prionapteryx yavapai
Prionapteryx yavapai is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Kearfott in 1908. It is a member of the subfamily Crambinae, a group commonly known as grass moths. The species is known from a limited geographic range in the southwestern United States.
Prorasea praeia
Prorasea praeia is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, subfamily Evergestinae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1917. The species is known from western North America, with records from the southwestern United States and western Canada. Available information is limited; larvae and adult biology remain poorly documented.
Psara obscuralis
obscure psara moth
Psara obscuralis, the obscure psara moth, is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 23 mm. It occurs across the southeastern and central United States, with its range extending south through Mexico to Costa Rica. Adults are active from May through September. The larvae feed on two specific host plants: Petiveria alliacea (guinea hen weed) and Phytolacca americana (pokeweed).
Pyrausta aurea
Pyrausta aurea is a small crambid moth described by Butler in 1875. Adults are bright orange with distinctive wing markings and show sexual dimorphism in size. The species occurs from the southwestern United States through Central America. Adults are active during summer months.
Pyrausta inornatalis
Inornate Pyrausta Moth
Pyrausta inornatalis is a small crambid moth native to North America, first described in 1885. Adults are characterized by uniformly reddish-pink forewings without markings. The species has established non-native populations in Japan since 2019 and in southwestern France since 2024. Larvae feed primarily on Salvia species, boring into unopened flower buds.
Pyrausta insignitalis
dark-banded pyrausta moth
Pyrausta insignitalis is a small crambid moth commonly known as the dark-banded pyrausta moth. First described by Guenée in 1854, this species is found in the southeastern United States, the West Indies, and extends through Central and South America. It is a member of the snout moth family, characterized by elongated mouthparts projecting from the head.
Pyrausta lethalis
Lethal Pyrausta, lethal pyrausta moth
Pyrausta lethalis is a small crambid moth described by Grote in 1881. It occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. The species is characterized by distinctive purplish-brown forewings with contrasting pale subterminal areas. Adults are active across much of the year, with records spanning March through October.
Pyrausta obtusanalis
White-fringed Pyrausta Moth and Allies
Pyrausta obtusanalis is a crambid moth described by Druce in 1899. It belongs to the genus Pyrausta, a diverse group of small moths commonly known as pyrausta moths or snout moths. The species has a documented distribution in Mexico (Jalapa), southern California, and Arizona. Beyond basic taxonomic and geographic information, little is documented about its biology.