Crambidae
Guides
Porphyrorhegma
Porphyrorhegma is a monotypic genus of crambid moths in the subfamily Odontiinae, established by Munroe in 1961. The genus contains a single species, Porphyrorhegma fortunata, recorded from California. Knowledge of this genus is limited due to its rarity and restricted distribution.
Portentomorpha
Portentomorpha is a monotypic genus of crambid moths established by Hans Georg Amsel in 1956. The genus contains a single species, Portentomorpha xanthialis, and serves as the type genus for the tribe Portentomorphini. The genus is distributed across the southeastern United States, Caribbean islands, and tropical regions of Central and South America.
Prionapteryx
Prionapteryx n-sp is an undescribed or unidentified species within the genus Prionapteryx, a group of grass-veneer moths in the family Crambidae. The 'n-sp' designation indicates it has been recognized as distinct but not yet formally described or assigned a specific epithet. Members of this genus are typically associated with grassland and wetland habitats.
Psammobotys
Psammobotys is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Odontiinae. The genus was erected by Munroe in 1961 and contains two described species: P. fordi (type species) and P. alpinalis. The genus name derives from Greek 'psammos' (sand), suggesting a potential association with sandy habitats. Both species were described by Munroe, with P. fordi described in 1961 and P. alpinalis in 1972.
Psammobotys fordi
Psammobotys fordi is a moth species in the family Crambidae, described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1961. It is known from California, where it has been recorded in sandy habitats. The genus name Psammobotys derives from Greek roots referring to sand, suggesting an association with sandy environments. The species is one of relatively few documented members of this genus.
Psara
Psara is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus was established by Snellen in 1875 and contains multiple species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. These moths are generally small to medium-sized with characteristic wing patterns typical of the subfamily.
Pseudopyrausta marginalis
Pseudopyrausta marginalis is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914. The species exhibits a broad transcontinental distribution across North America, with records from Alaska to Quebec and south to Texas, as well as in Panama. Adults are active from late spring through autumn.
Pseudoschinia
Pseudoschinia is a monotypic genus of crambid moths established by Munroe in 1961. The sole species, Pseudoschinia elautalis, is a specialist herbivore of cacti in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Adults are small moths with distinctive pale yellow forewings and white hindwings. The genus is notable for its narrow ecological association with columnar and cholla cacti.
Pseudoschinia elautalis
Desert Bantam
Pseudoschinia elautalis, commonly known as the Desert Bantam, is a small moth in the family Crambidae. It is the sole member of its genus, making the genus monotypic. The species is restricted to arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Adults are active during warmer months and are associated with desert habitats.
Pseudoschoenobius
Pseudoschoenobius is a monotypic genus of moths in the family Crambidae, established by Fernald in 1891. The sole species, Pseudoschoenobius opalescalis, is restricted to North America. Adults are small moths with a wingspan of approximately 30 mm.
Pseudoschoenobius opalescalis
Pseudoschoenobius opalescalis is a moth species in the family Crambidae. It is the sole member of its genus. The species has been recorded from dry, sandy habitats across scattered localities in western and central North America.
Pyrausta
Mint Moths
Pyrausta is a speciose genus of crambid moths commonly known as mint moths. Larvae of various species feed on diverse host plants including mints (Mentha), monardas, Prunella vulgaris, and other herbaceous plants. Several species are significant agricultural or horticultural pests, notably Pyrausta nubilalis (European corn borer), a major pest of maize with a nearly worldwide distribution. The genus exhibits considerable variation in host specialization, with some species restricted to single host genera while others are polyphagous.
Pyrausta acrionalis
mint-loving pyrausta moth
Pyrausta acrionalis, commonly known as the mint-loving pyrausta moth, is a small crambid moth native to eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of 14–18 mm. Larvae feed specifically on leaves of Mentha (mint) species. The species is part of the snout moth family, characterized by elongated mouthparts.
Pyrausta andrei
Pyrausta andrei is a species of crambid moth described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1976. It belongs to the genus Pyrausta, a diverse group of small moths commonly known as pyrausta moths or snout moths due to their elongated labial palps. The species is known from a limited number of records in Texas, North America. Like other members of Pyrausta, it is presumed to have a herbivorous larval stage, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Pyrausta antisocialis
Pyrausta antisocialis is a crambid moth described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1976. It is known from a restricted range in the southwestern United States, specifically New Mexico and Arizona. Adults are active during summer months. The species belongs to a genus containing many herbivorous species, though specific biological details for this species remain limited.
Pyrausta arizonicalis
Pyrausta arizonicalis is a crambid moth described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1976. It is found in the southwestern United States, with records from Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Adults are active from April through November, indicating an extended flight period across multiple seasons.
Pyrausta atropurpuralis
A small crambid moth described by Grote in 1877, found in the southwestern United States. Adults have a wingspan of 15–18 mm with distinctive reddish-brown forewings bearing a purplish tinge and fuscous hindwings paler at the base. Adult activity has been recorded in September.
Pyrausta augustalis
Pyrausta augustalis is a small crambid moth described by Grote in 1875. It ranges from Texas through Mexico to Central America, with adults recorded active in March, June–July, and November. The wingspan is approximately 18 mm. The species belongs to the genus Pyrausta, which includes several herbivorous species whose larvae feed on flowering plants.
Pyrausta cardinalis
Pyrausta cardinalis is a small crambid moth described by Achille Guenée in 1854. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 12 mm. The species is restricted to the Caribbean region and southern Florida. Adults have been documented in March in Florida.
Pyrausta dapalis
Pyrausta dapalis is a small crambid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. Adults are active during winter months in western North America, with flight records from January through March. The species has been reared on Salvia species, indicating a larval association with this plant genus. Like other Pyrausta species, it is part of the snout moth group characterized by elongated labial palps.
Pyrausta laticlavia
Southern Purple Mint Moth
Pyrausta laticlavia, commonly known as the southern purple mint moth, is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 17 mm. The species occurs across the southern and western United States and has demonstrated northward range expansion in California during the 1990s. Adults are active during summer months, with flight periods varying by location.
Pyrausta morenalis
Pyrausta morenalis is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1908. It occurs in western North America from Washington to California and westward to Texas and Nevada, with additional records in Mexico. The species has a wingspan of 18–22 mm and exhibits distinctive dark reddish-brown forewings with a bronzy sheen contrasting with pale hindwings. Adults are active primarily from spring through mid-summer, with some records extending into autumn and early winter.
Pyrausta pseuderosnealis
Yellow-banded Pyrausta Moth
Pyrausta pseuderosnealis is a small crambid moth described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1976. It occurs across much of the southern and central United States and Mexico. Adults are active year-round in warmer regions, with records spanning January through October. The species belongs to a genus containing several economically significant herbivores, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Pyrausta subsequalis plagalis
Pyrausta subsequalis plagalis is a subspecies of crambid moth described by Haimbach in 1908. It belongs to the genus Pyrausta, a diverse group of small moths commonly known as pyrausta moths or snout moths. As a member of the family Crambidae, it shares characteristics with other pyraustines, though specific details about this particular subspecies remain poorly documented in available sources. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological variation within the broader species P. subsequalis.
Rhectocraspeda
eggplant webworm moth
Rhectocraspeda is a genus of snout moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus was described by Warren in 1892 and currently contains one recognized species, Rhectocraspeda periusalis, commonly known as the eggplant webworm moth. The genus is considered a synonym of Psara in some taxonomic databases, though this classification remains disputed. Members of this genus are associated with agricultural crops, particularly Solanaceae.
Rhodocantha
Rhodocantha is a monotypic genus of moths in the family Crambidae, established by Munroe in 1961. It contains a single species, Rhodocantha diagonalis, known from limited records in the southwestern United States. The genus belongs to the subfamily Odontiinae, a group of small to medium-sized moths often associated with arid and semi-arid habitats.
Rhodocantha diagonalis
Rhodocantha diagonalis is a small moth species and the sole member of its genus. It was described by Munroe in 1961 and belongs to the family Crambidae, subfamily Odontiinae. The species is known from a restricted geographic range in the southwestern United States.
Rupela segrega
Rupela segrega is a moth species in the family Crambidae, described by Carl Heinrich in 1937. It is known from a limited range in the eastern United States, with records from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Maryland. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in wingspan, with males measuring 26–33 mm and females 28–38 mm. Adults are active during two distinct periods: spring (April–July) and fall (September–October).
Rupela sejuncta
Rupela sejuncta is a crambid moth described by Carl Heinrich in 1937. It is characterized by shining white wings and moderate sexual dimorphism in size. Adults are active during two main periods: spring through early summer and again in autumn. The species occurs primarily in the southeastern and south-central United States.
Salbia
Salbia is a genus of crambid moths (family Crambidae, subfamily Pyraustinae) established by Achille Guenée in 1854. The genus contains leaf-rolling species, including Salbia lotanalis, which has been studied as a potential biological control agent for the invasive tree Miconia calvescens. Larvae feed on Melastomataceae and construct leaf rolls for shelter.
Salbia melanobathrum
Salbia melanobathrum is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914. The species is known from a single iNaturalist observation and limited historical records from Panama. Adults are characterized by their small size and uniform pale coloration.
Samea
Samea is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae, established by Achille Guenée in 1854. The genus comprises approximately 25 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. Samea multiplicalis, commonly known as the Salvinia moth, has been extensively studied for its potential use as a biological control agent against the invasive aquatic fern Salvinia. Most species in this genus appear to be associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats.
Samea castellalis
Stained-glass Moth
Samea castellalis, commonly known as the Stained-glass Moth, is a species of pyraloid moth in the family Crambidae. The species was described by Guenée in 1854 and is currently treated as a synonym of Samea ecclesialis in some taxonomic databases, though both names remain in use. It is a moderately well-documented species with over 6,000 observations recorded on iNaturalist. The moth occurs across a broad Neotropical and Nearctic range.
Samea multiplicalis
salvinia stem-borer moth
Samea multiplicalis is an aquatic moth native to the Americas, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina, and introduced to Australia in 1981 as a biological control agent for invasive water ferns. Adults are small, tan moths with darker wing markings and a wingspan of approximately 20 mm. The species completes its entire life cycle on or near aquatic host plants, with larvae feeding internally on stems and externally on leaves, often causing plant death. High rates of parasitism by native wasps and flies limit its effectiveness as a weed control agent in introduced ranges.
Sathria
Sathria is a genus of snout moths in the family Crambidae, established by Julius Lederer in 1863. The genus contains three described species: Sathria internitalis, Sathria onophasalis, and Sathria simmialis. Members are classified within the subfamily Spilomelinae, a large and diverse group of crambid moths. The genus appears to be relatively poorly represented in collections and observations compared to many other crambid genera.
Saucrobotys
Saucrobotys is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, established by Munroe in 1976. The genus contains at least two described species: Saucrobotys fumoferalis and Saucrobotys futilalis. Larvae of at least one species, S. futilalis (the dogbane webworm), are known to feed on dogbane (Apocynum spp.), sequestering the plant's toxic cardenolides for their own chemical defense.
Schoenobiinae
Schoenobiinae is a subfamily of grass moths (Crambidae) established by Duponchel in 1846. The group comprises approximately 30 genera including Schoenobius, Scirpophaga, Donacaula, and Catagela. Many species are stem borers of monocot plants, with larvae feeding internally in stems of grasses, sedges, and rushes. Some genera contain significant agricultural pests, particularly of rice and other cultivated cereals.
Scoparia basalis
Many-spotted Scoparia Moth
Scoparia basalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, commonly known as the many-spotted scoparia moth. The species is characterized by its diminutive size, with a wingspan of approximately 13 mm. It is distributed across much of North America, with records from both the United States and Canada. The specific epithet 'basalis' refers to a basal feature, though the exact morphological reference is not detailed in available sources.
Scoparia biplagialis
Double-striped Scoparia Moth
Scoparia biplagialis, known as the double-striped scoparia moth, is a small crambid moth first described by Francis Walker in 1866. The species is characterized by its small size, with forewings measuring 6–8 mm in length. It exhibits a broad distribution across North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada through much of the contiguous United States. Adults are active during summer months, with flight records from June to August.
Scoparia cinereomedia
Sooty Scoparia Moth
Scoparia cinereomedia is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904. It occurs across eastern and central North America from British Columbia to the Atlantic coast, with records spanning from Kentucky to Nova Scotia. Adults are active from May through August and are attracted to light. The species is one of numerous small, dull-colored moths in the genus Scoparia, which are often challenging to identify without close examination.
Scoparia normalis
Scoparia normalis is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904. It is known from a disjunct distribution across the western United States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah) with an isolated eastern record from North Carolina. Adults are active during summer months, with flight records from July through September. The species has a wingspan of approximately 26 mm and exhibits distinctive gray forewings with complex black patterning.
Scoparia palloralis
Scoparia palloralis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1906. It occurs in western North America from British Columbia to southern California, with inland records from Colorado and western Texas. The species exhibits seasonal flight activity in spring and summer, with timing varying by latitude and elevation.
Scoparia rigidalis
Scoparia rigidalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1912. The species is known from Arizona in North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 22 mm and are active from August to September. The forewings display distinctive purplish-brown coloration with contrasting pale markings.
Scybalistodes
Scybalistodes is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Glaphyriinae, established by Eugene G. Munroe in 1964. The genus contains nine described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Most species were described in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The genus is part of a diverse group of small to medium-sized crambid moths.
Sericoplaga
Sericoplaga is a monotypic moth genus in the family Crambidae, established by William Warren in 1892. The genus contains a single species, Sericoplaga externalis, also described by Warren in the same year. This genus is endemic to North America.
Sericoplaga externalis
Falcate Sericoplaga
Sericoplaga externalis is a moth species in the family Crambidae and the sole member of its genus. It is found in eastern and central North America, ranging from Maryland to Illinois and south to Florida and Texas. The species is commonly known as the Falcate Sericoplaga. It has been documented in 1,479 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is moderately well-recorded but not extensively studied.
Sisyracera
Sisyracera is a genus of snout moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae, and tribe Udeini. It was established in 1890 by Heinrich Benno Möschler with Leucinodes preciosalis as the type species, now synonymized with Sisyracera subulalis. The genus contains three recognized species, with distribution centered in the Neotropical region.
Sisyracera inabsconsalis
A small crambid moth described by Möschler in 1890. Records indicate it occurs only on Puerto Rico and Cuba. The genus Sisyracera contains relatively few described species, and this taxon appears to be one of the less frequently encountered members of the group.
Sitochroa
Sitochroa is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, established by Hübner in 1825. The genus includes approximately nine described species distributed across North America and Eurasia. Some species, such as Sitochroa verticalis, have been documented in agricultural settings including corn fields, where they can be confused with pest species like the European corn borer due to superficial wing pattern similarities.
Sitochroa aureolalis
Sitochroa aureolalis is a small crambid moth described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Adults are active in spring and late summer, with a bimodal flight pattern. The species is distinguished by its bright golden-yellow forewings.