Pyralidae
Guides
Barberia affinitella
Barberia affinitella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, and the sole member of its genus. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1905. The species is found in the southern United States, ranging from California to Texas. As a member of the subfamily Phycitinae, it belongs to a diverse group of pyralid moths commonly known as snout moths due to their prominent labial palps.
Bethulia
Bethulia is a genus of snout moths (family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae) described by Ragonot in 1888. It belongs to the diverse pyraloid moth fauna, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature. The genus is rarely encountered in collections and has minimal published research on its species-level diversity and natural history.
Bonchis
snout moths
Bonchis is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Chrysauginae. It was established by Francis Walker in 1862. The genus contains at least four described species distributed across the Neotropical region, including Trinidad, Brazil, and Panama. The type species is Bonchis scoparioides Walker, 1862, described from Pará, Brazil.
Cacotherapia angulalis
Cacotherapia angulalis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1918. It is endemic to California and belongs to a genus of relatively obscure pyralid moths. The specific epithet "angulalis" likely refers to angular features in wing pattern or body shape.
Cacotherapia bilinealis
Cacotherapia bilinealis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described from Arizona in 1918. It belongs to the subfamily Galleriinae, which includes many species associated with stored products and plant materials. The species remains poorly known, with only five observations recorded on iNaturalist. Its specific epithet "bilinealis" refers to two lines, likely describing a wing pattern feature.
Cacotherapia leucocope
A small North American snout moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1917. Known only from Colorado with a wingspan of approximately 18 mm. Belongs to the family Pyralidae, subfamily Galleriinae.
Cacotherapia nigrocinereella
A species of snout moth described by George Duryea Hulst in 1900. The species is endemic to Texas and is one of few documented members of the genus Cacotherapia. Knowledge of its biology remains limited due to scarcity of records.
Cacotherapia unipuncta
one-spotted snout moth
Cacotherapia unipuncta is a species of snout moth (family Pyralidae, subfamily Galleriinae) described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1913. The species is known from limited localities in eastern North America, with records from Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Like other members of its genus, it belongs to a group of relatively obscure pyralid moths whose biology remains poorly documented.
Cacozelia
snout moths
Cacozelia is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. It was established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878 based on specimens from Venezuela. The genus contains at least five described species distributed in the Neotropical region. Members of this genus are characterized by features typical of the subfamily Epipaschiinae, which includes many tropical pyralid moths with relatively broad wings and distinctive genitalia.
Cacozelia pemphusalis
Cacozelia pemphusalis is a species of snout moth described by Herbert Druce in 1899. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Cacozelia albimedialis. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States, particularly Arizona.
Cactoblastis
Cactoblastis is a genus of snout moths (Pyralidae) described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1901. The genus contains five described species native to South America, with C. cactorum being the most extensively studied due to its historical role as a biological control agent. Larvae are specialized internal feeders on cactus cladodes, and the genus is notable for complex collective behaviors in neonate caterpillars. C. cactorum was famously introduced to Australia in 1925 to control invasive prickly pear cacti, achieving significant success, though later spreading to threaten native Opuntia species in other regions.
LepidopteraPyralidaebiological-controlOpuntiacactus-mothherbivorysocial-behaviorinvasive-speciesclassical-biological-controlSouth-AmericaAustraliaFloridaneonate-aggregationegg-stickinternal-feedermeristem-feedermandibular-gland-markingtrail-followingcontagious-distributionpopulation-regulationhost-specificityecosystem-impacthistorical-ecologypestconservation-concernCactobrosis fernaldialis
blue cactus borer
Cactobrosis fernaldialis, commonly known as the blue cactus borer, is a snout moth species found in desert regions of the southwestern United States. Adults exhibit bivoltine flight periods in spring and late summer through autumn. The species is notable for its larval specialization on Ferocactus wislizeni.
Cadra figulilella
raisin moth
Cadra figulilella, the raisin moth, is a globally distributed pest of dried and ripening fruits in the family Pyralidae. First identified as a pest of Muscat raisins in California in 1928, it has since spread to tropical and Mediterranean climates worldwide. The species is economically significant due to larval damage to dates, raisins, figs, and other fruits both on the tree and in storage. Adults are short-lived and nocturnal, with females laying an average of 160 eggs that hatch into larvae capable of causing up to 90% fruit infestation in severe cases.
Canarsia ulmiarrosorella
Elm Leaftier Moth
Canarsia ulmiarrosorella, the elm leaftier moth, is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. It is the sole member of the monotypic genus Canarsia. The species is native to North America and has been documented in Massachusetts, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Vermont. Larvae are known to feed on elm foliage, tying leaves together with silk.
Caphys
snout moths
Caphys is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Chrysauginae. It was established by Francis Walker in 1863 with Caphys bilinea (now a junior synonym of C. bilineata) as the type species. The genus contains eight described species distributed primarily in the Americas, ranging from the southwestern United States through Central America.
Caphys arizonensis
Caphys arizonensis is a species of snout moth in the genus Caphys, first described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1970. The species is endemic to Arizona, United States, with its specific epithet derived from this type locality. As a member of the subfamily Chrysauginae within the family Pyralidae, it represents a relatively poorly documented pyralid moth with limited published information on its biology and ecology.
Caristanius
Caristanius is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It was described by Carl Heinrich in 1956. The genus contains six described species distributed in the Neotropical region, with records from Guatemala, Mexico, and Central America.
Catastia actualis
Catastia actualis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. It is found in western North America, ranging from the Canadian prairies through the Rocky Mountains to the Sierra Nevada. Adults are active in early summer with a relatively narrow flight period.
Caudellia
A genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904, the genus name honors entomologist Andrew Nelson Caudell. The genus contains seven described species distributed across North America and the Galápagos Islands.
Chararica
snout moths
Chararica is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It was established by Carl Heinrich in 1956 and contains four described species distributed in North America. The genus is characterized by features typical of Phycitinae, including elongated labial palps that form a snout-like projection.
Chararica annuliferella
Chararica annuliferella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1905. It belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of small moths often associated with dried plant material. The species is recorded from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Chorrera
Chorrera is a genus of snout moths (family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae) established by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914. It belongs to the diverse pyralid moth fauna and is represented by at least one described species. The genus is placed within the Phycitinae, a subfamily known for slender-bodied moths with elongated labial palps forming a snout-like projection.
Chrysauginae
Scaly-legged Pyralids
Chrysauginae is a subfamily of snout moths (Pyralidae) comprising approximately 400 described species. The subfamily is primarily Neotropical in distribution and includes notable specialized groups such as sloth moths, whose larvae feed on sloth dung and adults inhabit sloth fur. Most species have plant-feeding larvae that bore into seeds, fruits, stems, and roots or construct leaf shelters.
Clydonopteron sacculana
Trumpet Vine Moth
Clydonopteron sacculana is a small snout moth (Pyralidae) first described from the Americas in 1800. Adults are active from May to August with a wingspan of 15–25 mm. The species exhibits documented host plant flexibility, with larvae feeding on Campsis radicans seed pods and, in North Carolina populations, internally on Pyrus calleryana fruit.
Condylolomia
snout moths
Condylolomia is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Chrysauginae. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. The genus contains two described species: Condylolomia participalis (the type species) and Condylolomia metapachys. As members of the Chrysauginae, these moths likely share characteristics with other subfamily members, though specific traits for the genus remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Condylolomia participialis
Drab Condylolomia Moth
Condylolomia participialis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is commonly known as the Drab Condylolomia Moth. The species belongs to the subfamily Chrysauginae, a group of pyralid moths often associated with diverse larval feeding habits. It has been documented across parts of the United States, with records from Vermont and other regions. The genus Condylolomia was established by the same author in the same publication year.
Cremnops ashmeadi
Pegasus wasp
Cremnops ashmeadi is a species of braconid wasp in the subfamily Agathidinae, first described by Morrison in 1917. Like other members of the genus Cremnops, it is characterized by an elongated, equine-like head that superficially resembles the mythological winged horse Pegasus, leading to the common name 'Pegasus wasps' for this genus. Species of Cremnops are parasitoids of caterpillars, specifically targeting larvae in the families Pyralidae and Crambidae. The genus occurs in terrestrial habitats worldwide, with C. ashmeadi known from North America.
Crocidomera
Crocidomera is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It was established by Zeller in 1848. The genus contains three described species: C. fissuralis, C. imitata, and C. turbidella. Members are small moths with the characteristic elongated labial palps that give Pyralidae their common name.
Crocidomera imitata
Crocidomera imitata is a species of snout moth described by Herbert H. Neunzig in 1990. The species name derives from Latin 'imita', meaning 'imitate' or 'copy', possibly alluding to its resemblance to another species. It is known from Texas and Florida in the southern United States. As a member of the subfamily Phycitinae within Pyralidae, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized moths often associated with stored products or plant materials.
Cuniberta subtinctella
Cuniberta subtinctella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It is the sole species in the genus Cuniberta, which was established by Heinrich in 1956. The species was first described by Ragonot in 1887 and is known from western North America.
Dasypyga alternosquamella
snout moth
A specialist snout moth (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) endemic to western North America. Described by Ragonot in 1887, this species has evolved a strict ecological dependency on dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium). Its larvae are obligate herbivores that mine mistletoe shoots, often killing the host plant. The species represents a notable case of host-specific herbivory with measurable ecological impacts on mistletoe populations.
Dasypyga salmocolor
Dasypyga salmocolor is a species of snout moth described by André Blanchard in 1970. It belongs to the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. The species is known from the southwestern United States.
Decaturia pectinalis
Decaturia pectinalis is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. It is the sole species in the genus Decaturia, which was established by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1912. The species is found in the southwestern United States, ranging from California to southern Arizona. The genus name honors Barnes's hometown of Decatur, Illinois.
Deuterollyta
Deuterollyta is a genus of snout moths (family Pyralidae) in the subfamily Epipaschiinae, established by Lederer in 1863. It belongs to the diverse pyraloid moth fauna, with approximately 161 iNaturalist observations indicating moderate documentation. The genus is currently accepted in taxonomic databases.
Deuterollyta majuscula
Deuterollyta majuscula is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. It was described by Herrich-Schäffer in 1871 and occurs across a broad geographic range including the southern United States, Caribbean, and Central America. The species was previously placed in the genus Jocara but has been reassigned to Deuterollyta based on taxonomic revision.
Dioryctria
Conifer Coneworm Moths, Coneworm Moths
Dioryctria is a genus of snout moths (family Pyralidae) described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1846. Commonly known as conifer coneworm moths, the genus contains approximately 40 species in North America, with 25 occurring in western regions. Larvae of most species feed within conifer cones, though some species infest shoots, branches, or bark. Several species are significant forest pests, causing damage to pine, spruce, fir, and cedar trees through cone and seed destruction, shoot boring, and deformation of tree crowns.
Dioryctria abietivorella
fir coneworm, Evergreen Coneworm Moth
Dioryctria abietivorella, commonly known as the fir coneworm, is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878. Its larvae develop in conifer seed cones and branches, with documented performance varying by host species and cone availability. White spruce appears to be the most suitable host based on development rate studies.
Dioryctria amatella
southern pineconeworm moth, Southern Pine Coneworm Moth
Dioryctria amatella is a pyralid moth whose larvae develop within pine cones, primarily feeding on seeds and cone tissues. The species is a significant pest in southeastern U.S. pine forests, with one to four generations annually. Adults are active from early spring through late autumn. The species overwinters in Cronartium fusiforme fungal cankers on pine trees, utilizing these as protected winter habitats.
Dioryctria auranticella
ponderosa pineconeworm moth
Dioryctria auranticella is a small pyralid moth whose larvae develop inside the cones of ponderosa pine and knobcone pine. Adults are active in mid-summer and are attracted to lights. The species is restricted to western North America, where it functions as a cone pest with potential impact on pine seed production.
Dioryctria banksiella
Dioryctria banksiella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described in 1969 from Canadian specimens. The larvae develop within galls formed by the western gall rust fungus (Cronartium harknessii) on jack pine (Pinus banksiana) trunks. Early instars feed on gall tissue beneath the bark, while later instars mine deeper into the gall. The species is known only from western and central Canada.
Dioryctria caesirufella
Dioryctria caesirufella is a snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described from Texas in 1983. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length. Its forewings display a distinctive bluish-grey ground color with reddish dusting. The larval host plant is possibly bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), though this association requires confirmation.
Dioryctria cambiicola
Western Pine Moth
Dioryctria cambiicola, commonly known as the western pine moth, is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. First described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914, this species is native to western North America. The genus Dioryctria includes coneworm moths whose larvae typically feed within conifer cones, though some species feed in foliage shoots or under bark. Adults are small moths, measuring 10–15 mm in length.
Dioryctria clarioralis
Blister Coneworm Moth
Dioryctria clarioralis, commonly known as the blister coneworm moth, is a species of pyralid moth found in the eastern United States. The larvae feed on various Pinus species, particularly attacking flower clusters and shoots. The species is part of a genus whose members are generally known as coneworm moths due to larval feeding habits in conifer cones and shoots.
Dioryctria delectella
Dioryctria delectella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1895. It is currently treated as a synonym of Dioryctria zimmermani. The species is known from western North America, with records from Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Like other members of the genus Dioryctria, it is associated with coniferous forests.
Dioryctria disclusa
rusty pine cone moth, webbing coneworm
Dioryctria disclusa is a small conifer-feeding moth in the family Pyralidae, commonly known as the rusty pine cone moth or webbing coneworm. The species occurs across eastern and central North America, with larvae that feed on loblolly pine cones. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 24 mm. The species is part of a genus whose members are significant pests of pine trees, with some related species targeted for biological control research.
Dioryctria ebeli
South Coastal Coneworm Moth
Dioryctria ebeli, the south coastal coneworm moth, is a species of pyralid moth described in 1979. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are commonly known as coneworms due to their habit of feeding within conifer cones. The species has a restricted distribution along the southeastern and Gulf coasts of the United States, with scattered records as far north as Massachusetts. Larval development occurs within pine cones.
Dioryctria erythropasa
Dioryctria erythropasa is a small snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914. The species ranges from Arizona southward along the Mexican Pacific coast to Central America. Adults have a wingspan of 23–32 mm. Like other members of the genus Dioryctria, the larvae likely develop in conifer cones or shoots, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented.
Dioryctria gulosella
Snout moth
Dioryctria gulosella is a small snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1890. The species is known from the western United States, with records from Colorado, New Mexico, and California. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with coniferous habitats. Adults have a wingspan of 21–27 mm.
Dioryctria merkeli
loblolly pine coneworm moth
Dioryctria merkeli is a snout moth species in the family Pyralidae, described in 1979 from the eastern United States. The larvae are known to feed on Pinus species, boring into the cambium of trunks, branches, and twigs. This species is part of a genus whose members are commonly known as coneworm moths due to their larval habit of feeding in conifer cones and woody tissues.
Dioryctria okanaganella
Dioryctria okanaganella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described in 1969. It occurs in western North America from southern British Columbia to northern California. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with coniferous forests.