Pyralidae
Guides
Achroia
Achroia is a genus of small moths in the snout moth family Pyralidae, belonging to the tribe Galleriini within subfamily Galleriinae. The genus contains one unequivocally recognized species, Achroia grisella (lesser wax moth), with several other named species considered of doubtful validity. These moths are primarily known as pests of honey bee colonies, where larvae consume wax, pollen, and honey. The genus is closely related to Galleria, which contains the greater wax moth.
Acrobasis
Acrobasis is a genus of small moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Species in this genus are primarily known as pests of nut and fruit crops, with several economically significant species including the pecan nut casebearer (A. nuxvorella) and species affecting chokeberry, walnut, and hickory. Larvae typically bore into developing nuts or fruits, causing direct damage to yield. The genus has a Holarctic distribution with records from North America and Europe.
Acrobasis angusella
Hickory Leafstem Borer, Leafstem Borer, Hickory Leafstem Borer Moth
Acrobasis angusella, described by Grote in 1880, is a snout moth in the family Pyralidae. The species is known from Quebec, Canada, and the northeastern United States. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 18 mm and are active from May through September. The larvae are specialized feeders on hickory species (Carya), boring into leaf stems and causing premature leaf drop.
Acrobasis aurorella
Acrobasis aurorella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. It was described by Charles Russell Ely in 1910. The species is known from the eastern United States. Little detailed information is available about its biology or ecology.
Acrobasis caliginella
Acrobasis caliginella is a snout moth (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) described by George Duryea Hulst in 1878. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from California and Arizona. Larvae feed on multiple oak species (Quercus spp.), including coast live oak and interior live oak. Like other Acrobasis species, it likely develops as a concealed feeder in host plant tissues.
Acrobasis caryivorella
pecan nursery casemaker
Acrobasis caryivorella, known as the pecan nursery casemaker, is a snout moth in the family Pyralidae described by Ragonot in 1887. It is a pest of pecan and walnut trees, with larvae that bore into new growth and developing nuts. The species has two to four generations per year and overwinters in the larval stage. It occurs in southeastern Ontario, Canada, and the eastern United States.
Acrobasis cirroferella
Acrobasis cirroferella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1892. The species is known from Florida and Texas in the United States. Larvae feed on Myrica cerifera (wax myrtle).
Acrobasis demotella
Walnut Shoot Moth
Acrobasis demotella, the walnut shoot moth, is a small pyralid moth described by Grote in 1881. Its larvae feed on Juglans (walnut) and Carya (hickory/pecan) species, making it a pest of nut-producing trees. The species occurs across eastern and central North America. It is one of several Acrobasis species associated with hardwood trees in the walnut family.
Acrobasis exsulella
cordovan pyralid moth
Acrobasis exsulella, commonly known as the cordovan pyralid moth, is a species of snout moth described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1848. It belongs to the genus Acrobasis within the family Pyralidae. The species is known from the southeastern United States. Information regarding its biology, host plants, and ecological relationships remains limited in the available literature.
Acrobasis indigenella
Leaf Crumpler
Acrobasis indigenella, the leaf crumpler, is a small snout moth (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) described by Zeller in 1848. It is known from eastern North America, with records extending into central Canada and the north-central United States. The species has a bivoltine life cycle in Illinois and the southeastern United States, with larvae that feed on leaves of Juglandaceae, particularly black walnut, hickories, and pecan. First-generation larvae are notable for skeletonizing leaves and webbing them together into shelters for feeding.
Acrobasis minimella
Acrobasis minimella is a small snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1889. It occurs in the eastern United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 17 mm. Its larvae are specialized feeders on oak species (Quercus).
Acrobasis normella
Acrobasis normella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1908. The species is associated with hazelnut hosts, with larvae feeding on American hazelnut (Corylus americana) and beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta). It is known from Ontario, Canada, and the central and eastern United States. Like other Acrobasis species, it likely has a concealed larval lifestyle within host plant tissues.
Acrobasis ostryella
Acrobasis ostryella is a snout moth (family Pyralidae) described by Charles Russell Ely in 1913. The species has one generation per year and occurs in eastern North America. Larvae are specialized feeders on Ostrya virginiana (American hophornbeam), constructing silk tubes at the base of leaves where they overwinter. The species is one of approximately 60 Acrobasis species in North America, many of which are associated with woody host plants.
Acrobasis pallicornella
Acrobasis pallicornella is a species of snout moth in the genus Acrobasis, described by Ragonot in 1887. It belongs to the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. The species is known from Texas, with limited available information about its biology and ecology. Like other members of the genus Acrobasis, it likely has a concealed larval lifestyle, though this has not been documented specifically for this species.
Acrobasis palliolella
mantled acrobasis moth
Acrobasis palliolella, the mantled acrobasis moth, is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. It was described by Ragonot in 1887 and is known from Ontario, Canada, and the eastern United States. The larvae feed on Carya species (hickories), including Carya ovata and Carya carolinae-septentrionalis.
Acrobasis suavella
Thicket Knot-horn, Blackthorn Knot-horn
Acrobasis suavella is a small pyralid moth native to Europe, with an established introduced population in southwestern Canada. Adults fly nocturnally during summer months and are readily attracted to light. The larva is a concealed feeder, constructing a silken gallery within which it feeds on host plant material over an extended autumn-to-spring period. The species has been the subject of genome sequencing as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.
Acrobasis texana
Acrobasis texana is a species of snout moth described by Herbert H. Neunzig in 1986. It belongs to the genus Acrobasis, a group of moths commonly known as knot-horns or casebearers. The species epithet refers to Texas, where it was first discovered. Like other members of its genus, it likely has concealed-feeding larvae, though specific life history details remain undocumented.
Acrobasis tricolorella
destructive prune worm, tricolored acrobasis moth
Acrobasis tricolorella is a snout moth (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878. The species occurs in southern Canada and the northern United States. Adults are active from June to October. Larvae feed on buds and fruits of various Rosaceae and related woody plants, and overwinter in the larval stage.
Acroncosa
Acroncosa is a genus of snout moths (family Pyralidae) established by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1917. The genus contains four described species, all found in North America. As members of the subfamily Phycitinae, these moths possess the characteristic elongated labial palps that form a snout-like projection. The type species is Acroncosa albiflavella.
Acroncosa minima
Acroncosa minima is a species of snout moth described by Herbert H. Neunzig in 2003. It is endemic to California, United States. The species belongs to the family Pyralidae, a large group of small moths commonly known as snout moths due to their projecting labial palps.
Actrix
Actrix is a genus of snout moths in the subfamily Phycitinae, described by Carl Heinrich in 1956. The genus contains two species: Actrix nyssaecolella and Actrix dissimulatrix. Both species are classified within the family Pyralidae, a large family of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as snout moths due to their elongated labial palps.
Adanarsa intransitella
Adanarsa intransitella is a snout moth (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) and the sole species in its monotypic genus. It was originally described as Rhodophaea intransitella by Dyar in 1905, then transferred to the new genus Adanarsa by Heinrich in 1956. The species is known from the southwestern United States.
Aglossa acallalis
Aglossa acallalis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1908 based on specimens from the southwestern United States. The species is known from a limited geographic range in southern Arizona and California. It belongs to the genus Aglossa, which includes several species associated with stored products and organic debris.
Aglossa cacamica
Aglossa cacamica is a snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1913–1914. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from California. The species has a wingspan of 22–34 mm. It belongs to a genus whose common name derives from the elongated labial palps that form a snout-like projection.
Aglossa costiferalis
Calico Pyralid
Aglossa costiferalis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, commonly known as the Calico Pyralid. It was described by Francis Walker in 1866 and is found in eastern North America. The species is relatively well-documented with over 900 iNaturalist observations, suggesting it is not uncommon within its range.
Aglossa pinguinalis
Large Tabby, Grease Moth
Aglossa pinguinalis is a pyralid moth commonly known as the large tabby or grease moth. The species exhibits a rare feeding strategy among Lepidoptera: coprophagy, with larvae consuming animal feces. Larval development spans approximately two years, and the species shows strong habitat affinity for caves and sheltered environments. It is native to the Palearctic region but has been introduced to North America and New Zealand.
Alpheias
Alpheias is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Galleriinae. The genus was established by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1891 and contains species found in North America and the Caribbean. Members are small to medium-sized moths with the characteristic snout-like labial palps typical of pyralid moths. The genus is relatively poorly documented compared to many other pyralid genera.
Alpheias oculiferalis
Alpheias oculiferalis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, first described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1891. It belongs to the genus Alpheias within the subfamily Galleriinae. The species is endemic to the US state of Texas, with 54 iNaturalist observations supporting its continued presence in the region.
Ambesa laetella
snout moth
Ambesa laetella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1880. It is known from the Canadian prairie provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. As a member of the subfamily Phycitinae, it shares the characteristic elongated labial palps that form a "snout" projection. The species has been documented through 95 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is moderately well-observed but remains poorly studied in the scientific literature.
Ambesa walsinghami
Ambesa walsinghami is a species of snout moth in the genus Ambesa. It was described by Ragonot in 1887. The species is found in western North America and belongs to the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae.
Amyelois
navel orangeworm
Amyelois is a monotypic genus of snout moths (Pyralidae) containing a single species, Amyelois transitella, commonly known as the navel orangeworm. The species is endemic to the tropical Western Hemisphere, including the southern United States, and has become a major agricultural pest in California nut orchards. Its abundance increased substantially during the first half of the 20th century.
Ancylosis
snout moths
Ancylosis is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae, established by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1839. The genus exhibits broad geographic distribution across multiple continents, with species recorded from Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Taxonomic revision work in recent years has clarified species boundaries, established new synonyms, and reinstated several previously synonymized species. The genus contains multiple subgenera including Ancylosis, Heterographis, Cabotia, and Syria, though some species remain unassigned.
Anderida
Anderida is a genus of moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Established by Heinrich in 1956, this genus belongs to the diverse group of snout moths. The genus contains species that are part of the North American moth fauna.
Anemosella nevalis
Anemosella nevalis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. It was described by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1925. The species is known from arid regions of the southwestern United States.
Anerastia
snout moths
Anerastia is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. The genus was established by Jacob Hübner in 1825 and contains approximately 12 described species. The best-known member is Anerastia lotella, the Sandhill Knot-horn moth, which has been the subject of genomic research. Species occur across parts of Europe, Africa, and North America.
Aphomia fulminalis
Aphomia fulminalis is a snout moth species in the family Pyralidae, first described by Zeller in 1872. It is known from eastern and central North America, with records spanning from Nova Scotia to Texas. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae are often associated with stored products and natural habitats containing waxes or oils.
Aphomia terrenella
Terrenella Bee Moth
Aphomia terrenella, commonly known as the terrenella bee moth, is a small moth in the family Pyralidae. It occurs in eastern North America from the Great Lakes region south to Georgia. The species is associated with bee nests, where its larvae have been observed feeding on honeycomb and possibly bee larvae. Adults are active during late spring and summer.
Apomyelois
knot-horn moths
Apomyelois is a genus of small pyralid moths in the subfamily Phycitinae, established by Carl Heinrich in 1956. The genus contains approximately six described species with notably divergent ecologies: some are agricultural pests of stored products and fruit crops, while others are specialized fungus-feeders in woodland habitats. Taxonomic boundaries remain contested, particularly regarding the placement of the carob moth, which some authorities classify as Ectomyelois ceratoniae.
Arcola
Arcola is a genus of snout moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the subfamily Phycitinae, described by Shaffer in 1995. The genus includes species associated with aquatic vegetation, most notably Arcola malloi (Alligatorweed Stem Borer), which has been employed as a biological control agent for the invasive aquatic weed alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) in the United States. The genus belongs to a diverse group of pyralid moths whose larvae typically feed on plant material.
Arcola malloi
alligator weed stem borer, Alligatorweed Stem Borer
Arcola malloi is a snout moth species used as a biological control agent against the invasive aquatic plant alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides). Native to South America, it was introduced to the United States in the 1970s and is now established in the southeastern United States. The species is notable for its stem-boring larval behavior that destroys host plant stems from the inside. When present alongside the alligator weed flea beetle, the two species act synergistically to eliminate weed mats.
Arivaca ostreella
Arivaca ostreella is a small snout moth species described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1887. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically from southern Arizona through New Mexico to Texas. Adults are active in July and have a wingspan of approximately 25 mm. The species belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae within the family Pyralidae.
Arta brevivalvalis
Arta brevivalvalis is a species of pyralid moth endemic to Arizona, United States. It was described by Cashatt in 2012. The species is characterized by distinctive wing coloration: forewings are reddish brown to purplish brown with ochreous antemedial and postmedial lines, while the hindwings are greyish brown.
Arta olivalis
Olive Arta Moth
Arta olivalis, commonly known as the olive arta moth, is a small snout moth species described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878. It belongs to the family Pyralidae and is known from the southern United States. The species is characterized by its relatively small size, with a wingspan of approximately 14 mm.
Arta statalis
posturing arta moth
Arta statalis is a small snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. It serves as the type species for the genus Arta. The species is notable for its distinctive resting posture, with hindwings tucked behind forewings and antennae positioned flat behind the head. It occurs across eastern North America in diverse habitats including woodlands and residential areas.
Atascosa
Atascosa is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It was established by George Duryea Hulst in 1890. The genus is known from the United States (Texas) and Colombia. As a genus of Phycitinae, it belongs to a diverse group of pyralid moths commonly known as snout moths due to their prominent labial palps.
Atascosa glareosella
Rosy Atascosa Moth
Atascosa glareosella is a snout moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. First described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1872, it is distributed across middle and eastern North America, including the United States and southern Canada, with particular concentration in the southern United States including Texas. The species is relatively well-documented with over 600 iNaturalist observations.
Bandera
snout moths
Bandera is a genus of snout moths (family Pyralidae) described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1887. The genus is known from the United States. As members of the subfamily Phycitinae, these moths are part of a diverse group of small to medium-sized pyralids.
Bandera virginella
Bandera Virginella Moth
Bandera virginella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1908. It is a relatively obscure species with limited published biological data. The species is known from western North America, ranging from southern Canada through the Rocky Mountain region to the southwestern United States.
Baphala
snout moths
Baphala is a genus of snout moths established by Carl Heinrich in 1956. It is currently treated as a junior synonym of Vitula, a genus within the subfamily Phycitinae of the family Pyralidae. The genus originally included seven described species, with Baphala pallida (Comstock, 1880) being among the earliest described. Species originally placed in Baphala are now classified under Vitula.
Barberia
Barberia is a genus of snout moths (family Pyralidae) described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1905. The genus contains at least one described species, Barberia affinitella. These small moths are found in the southern United States.