Pyralidae
Guides
Parachma
Parachma is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Chrysauginae. The genus was established by Walker in 1866 and is allied to the genera Caphys, Acallis, and Zabobar. Species in this genus are characterized by their association with the snout moth morphology typical of Pyralidae. The genus contains multiple species distributed across various regions, with over 2,500 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Paragalasa
Paragalasa is a monotypic genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, established by Cashatt in 1969. The genus contains a single species, Paragalasa exospinalis, known only from Arizona. Adults are small moths with distinctive wing coloration and patterning.
Passadena
Passadena is a genus of small moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. The genus was established by George D. Hulst in 1900. It belongs to the diverse snout moth group, characterized by elongated labial palps that project forward from the head. The genus contains relatively few described species and is poorly documented in scientific literature.
Passadenoides
Passadenoides is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, erected by Neunzig in 2003. The genus is known from very few observations and remains poorly documented. Little is known about its species diversity, biology, or ecology.
Penthesilea difficilis
Amazon Queen Moth
Penthesilea difficilis, commonly known as the Amazon Queen Moth, is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. The species was described by Felder and Rogenhofer in 1874. It belongs to the subfamily Chrysauginae, a group of pyralid moths that are primarily tropical in distribution. The genus Penthesilea is relatively small and poorly studied compared to many other pyralid genera.
Penthesilea sacculalis
Long-snouted Penthesilea Moth
A small pyralid moth with a wingspan of 13–17 mm, found across the southeastern and southwestern United States. The species exhibits dark brown to fuscous forewings with occasional reddish-brown overscaling at the basal angle. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form and P. s. baboquivariensis, restricted to Arizona.
Peoria bipartitella
Peoria bipartitella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It was described by Ragonot in 1887. The species belongs to the genus Peoria, which contains multiple species of small moths. Limited information is available regarding its biology and ecology.
Peoria floridella
Florida Peoria Moth
Peoria floridella is a small moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Shaffer in 1968. It is endemic to peninsular Florida, where it inhabits dry sandhill and scrub ecosystems. The species has been observed in association with sand live oak (Quercus geminata), suggesting a potential host relationship. Like many Phycitinae moths, it likely has a concealed larval stage, though detailed life history information remains limited.
Peoria gematella
Gemmed Cordgrass Borer
Peoria gematella, commonly known as the Gemmed Cordgrass Borer, is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. The species is associated with cordgrass habitats, as indicated by its common name. As a member of the genus Peoria, it belongs to a group of small moths whose larvae are typically borers in plant stems or roots.
Peoria holoponerella
Peoria holoponerella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Described by Dyar in 1908, this species belongs to a genus containing multiple North American species. Available information on this species is extremely limited, with only three observations recorded in iNaturalist and minimal published documentation.
Peoria johnstoni
Peoria johnstoni is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Shaffer in 1968. It belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of small moths often associated with dried plant material and stored products. The genus Peoria contains multiple species distributed primarily in North America. Available records indicate this species has been documented through limited observation efforts, with 17 records reported to iNaturalist.
Peoria opacella
Peoria opacella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1887. It belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized moths often associated with dried plant material and stored products. The species is part of the genus Peoria, which contains multiple North American species. Records indicate it has been observed at least 68 times according to iNaturalist data, suggesting it is not exceptionally rare, though detailed biological studies appear limited.
Peoria roseotinctella
Rosy Peoria Moth
Peoria roseotinctella is a small moth in the family Pyralidae, commonly known as the Rosy Peoria Moth. The species was described by Ragonot in 1887 and was originally placed in the genus Statina before being transferred to Peoria. It is one of approximately 282 recorded observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is documented but not particularly well-studied. The species belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of snout moths whose larvae often feed on dried plant material, seeds, or detritus.
Peoria santaritella
Peoria santaritella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, first described by Dyar in 1904. Originally placed in the genus Ollia, it was later transferred to Peoria. The species belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of small moths often associated with dried plant materials. Available records indicate it is rarely encountered, with limited observational data.
Peoria tetradella
four-spotted peoria
Peoria tetradella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Zeller in 1872. It belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as knot-horn moths. The species has been documented across North America with over 600 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Its common name, "four-spotted peoria," likely refers to characteristic wing markings, though specific pattern details require confirmation from specimens.
Phidotricha
Phidotricha is a genus of snout moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Epipaschiinae) established by Ragonot in 1889. The genus includes at least one economically significant species, Phidotricha erigens, which was first documented as a coffee pest in Amazonian Robusta plantations in Rondônia, Brazil. Members of this genus are associated with tropical agricultural ecosystems, with larvae feeding on reproductive structures of host plants.
Phidotricha erigens
Phidotricha erigens is a pyralid moth first documented as a coffee pest in Amazonian Robusta plantations in Rondônia, Brazil, representing the first world record of this species attacking Coffea. The larvae, known as rosette caterpillars, damage reproductive structures including flower buds, flowers, and developing fruits. The species predominates over co-occurring Cryptoblabes gnidiella in some areas and has been associated with sudden population outbreaks causing economic losses in coffee farming.
Philodema
Philodema is a genus of moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae, established by Heinrich in 1956. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal information available about its constituent species. Records indicate at least one species, Brachmia philodema (described from Yunnan, China by Meyrick in 1938), was later placed in this genus, though taxonomic placement remains uncertain. The genus belongs to a diverse group of small moths commonly known as snout moths.
Phobus curvatella
Phobus curvatella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Described by Ragonot in 1887, this species is among the least documented members of its genus. The genus Phobus contains relatively few described species, and most remain poorly known in terms of biology and distribution.
Phobus incertus
Phobus incertus is a species of pyralid moth in the subfamily Phycitinae, described by Heinrich in 1956. The genus Phobus belongs to the diverse snout moth family Pyralidae, a group characterized by their labial palps that project forward like a snout. Beyond its taxonomic placement and original description, specific biological information for this species remains undocumented in available literature.
Phycitinae
Knot-horn Moths
Phycitinae is a subfamily of snout moths (Pyralidae) representing the most diverse lineage within its family, encompassing over 600 genera and more than 4,000 species—more than three-quarters of living snout moth diversity. Together with Epipaschiinae, they form the most advanced lineage of snout moths. Adults are typically small, slender-bodied moths with well-developed proboscises and often elongated labial palps forming a 'snout.' The subfamily exhibits remarkable ecological diversity, with larvae occupying roles as leaf rollers, seed feeders, gall inquilines, aquatic predators, and agricultural pests.
Phycitini
Phycitini is a tribe of small moths within the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Members are commonly known as snout moths due to their prominent labial palps. The tribe contains numerous genera and is one of the most species-rich groups within the Pyralidae. Many species are associated with dried plant material and stored products.
Phycitodes
Phycitodes is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae, established by George Hampson in 1917. The genus contains approximately 18 described species distributed across the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. At least one species, Phycitodes subcretacella, has been documented feeding on the invasive weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed), suggesting potential ecological significance in biological control contexts.
Phycitodes reliquellum
Phycitodes reliquellum is a synonym of Phycitodes albatella, a small moth in the family Pyralidae. The name was described by Dyar in 1904 but is no longer accepted as a valid species. Records indicate occurrence in the Azores archipelago (Corvo, Faial, Flores, Graciosa, and Pico islands).
Phytodietus
Phytodietus is a species-rich genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Tryphoninae, distributed across all zoogeographical regions. Members are koinobiont ectoparasitoids of semi-concealed Lepidoptera larvae, with documented associations primarily to Tortricidae and Pyralidae. The genus was recently recorded from Thailand for the first time, expanding Oriental region documentation. Several species have been investigated for biological control of agricultural pests.
Pima albiplagiatella
White-edged Pima Moth, Beach Pea Borer
A small snout moth with a wingspan of approximately 20 mm, described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1874. The species has one generation per year. Larvae are specialized feeders on Astragalus and Lathyrus species (legumes), with documented hosts including Astragalus allochrous, A. thurberi, A. wootonii, and unspecified Lathyrus species.
Pima albocostalis
Pima albocostalis is a species of snout moth (family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae) occurring in western North America. The species was described by Hulst in 1890 and is currently recognized as a synonym of Pima albocostalialis. It has been documented from California, Colorado, Utah, Alberta, and British Columbia. Like other pyralid moths, adults likely possess the characteristic snout-like labial palps that give the family its common name.
Pima boisduvaliella
Silver-edged Knot-horn
Pima boisduvaliella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, commonly known as the Silver-edged Knot-horn. It has a broad distribution spanning most of Europe, parts of Asia, and northern North America. The species is notable for its larval feeding behavior inside the pods of leguminous host plants.
Pima fosterella
snout moth
Pima fosterella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, first described by Hulst in 1888. It is known from western North America, with records from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Washington, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. As a member of the Phycitinae subfamily, it belongs to a diverse group of small moths commonly referred to as snout moths due to their elongated labial palps.
Pima granitella
snout moth
Pima granitella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 29 mm. The species has one to two generations per year in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Larvae develop within legumes of host plants, feeding on seeds.
Pima occidentalis
snout moth
Pima occidentalis is a species of snout moth (family Pyralidae) native to the southwestern United States. The species was formerly treated as a subspecies of Pima albiplagiatella but is now recognized as distinct. Larvae are specialized feeders on Astragalus and Lathyrus species. Populations in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona produce two generations annually.
Pimodes
Pimodes is a genus of snout moths (Pyralidae) in the subfamily Phycitinae, described by Blanchard in 1976. The genus contains very few documented species and remains poorly known, with minimal published biological or ecological information. Records are sparse, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist.
Pococera
snout moths
Pococera is a genus of snout moths in the subfamily Epipaschiinae, described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1848. The genus contains approximately 86 species distributed primarily in North and Central America. Members of this genus are associated with forested habitats and include species that are defoliators of coniferous trees, such as the pine webworm (Pococera robustella), which feeds on pine foliage and can cause significant damage to pine seedlings and plantations.
Pococera aplastella
Aspen Webworm Moth
Pococera aplastella is a moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. Commonly known as the Aspen Webworm Moth, it occurs in western and central Canada. Larvae are web-forming caterpillars that feed on aspen and related host plants. The species has been documented in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Pococera asperatella
Maple Webworm Moth
Pococera asperatella, commonly known as the maple webworm moth, is a pyralid moth native to North America. Adults are characterized by their powdery gray coloration. The species has one generation per year. Larvae feed on foliage of hardwood trees, particularly maple (Acer) and sumac (Rhus) species. The caterpillars are known prey of the four-toothed mason wasp (Monobia quadridens), which paralyzes them to provision its nest cells.
Pococera baptisiella
Pococera baptisiella is a moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. It was first described by Fernald in 1887. The species is distributed across parts of Canada including Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are known to feed on various woody plants.
Pococera euphemella
Mesquite Leaf Tier Moth
Pococera euphemella is a moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. It is commonly known as the Mesquite Leaf Tier Moth. The species was described by Hulst in 1888 and is classified under the genus Pococera, which includes several leaf-rolling or leaf-tying caterpillar species that feed on woody plants. As a member of Epipaschiinae, it belongs to a group of pyralid moths whose larvae typically construct shelters by tying or rolling leaves.
Pococera griseella
A small moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae, described by Barnes and Benjamin in 1924. Originally described under the genus Tetralopha. The species is part of a genus that includes several North American moth species, some of which are known to be prey for predatory insects.
Pococera militella
Sycamore Webworm Moth, Sycamore Webworm
Pococera militella, commonly known as the sycamore webworm moth, is a species of pyralid moth in the family Pyralidae. The species was first described by Zeller in 1848 and is assigned the MONA/Hodges number 5604. As a member of the subfamily Epipaschiinae, it belongs to a group of moths whose larvae are known to feed on plant material and construct protective webbing structures.
Pococera robustella
pine webworm moth
Pococera robustella, commonly known as the pine webworm moth, is a species of pyralid moth whose larvae are significant defoliators of pine trees in eastern North America. The caterpillars feed on pine needles and produce characteristic webbing, giving rise to the common name. This species has been documented as prey for the assassin bug Acholla multispinosa.
Polopeustis arctiella
Polopeustis arctiella is a small snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Gibson in 1920. It is restricted to northern North America, with records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba, as well as the territory of Nunavut. The species has a wingspan of approximately 22 mm. It belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of pyralid moths whose larvae often feed on stored products or plant materials.
Protasia mirabilicornella
Protasia mirabilicornella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Described by Harrison Gray Dyar in 1908, this species belongs to the small genus Protasia. The specific epithet 'mirabilicornella' refers to the remarkable or unusual antennae ('mirabili-' = wonderful/strange, '-cornella' relating to horns/antennae). Like other Phycitinae, it is likely a small to medium-sized moth with relatively inconspicuous coloration.
Pseudocabima arizonensis
A small pyralid moth species described from Arizona in 1956. As a member of the Phycitinae subfamily, it likely exhibits typical snout moth characteristics including scaled wings and a compact body form. The species epithet indicates its type locality in Arizona, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Psorosina
Psorosina is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae, described by Harrison G. Dyar in 1904. The genus is poorly known, with limited published information on its constituent species, biology, or ecology. It belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized moths characterized by their prominent labial palps that project forward like a snout. Available records suggest it has a restricted distribution with few documented observations.
Psorosina hammondi
Appleleaf Skeletonizer
Psorosina hammondi is a pyralid moth in the subfamily Phycitinae, commonly known as the Appleleaf Skeletonizer. The species was described by Riley in 1872 and is notable for its specialized larval feeding behavior on hawthorn (Crataegus) leaves, producing characteristic skeletonizing damage. Despite its distinctive common name and host association, detailed biological information remains limited in accessible literature.
Pyla
snout moths
Pyla is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, described by Grote in 1882. The genus contains more than 20 described species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. These moths belong to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group within the pyralid moths.
Pyla aenigmatica
Pyla aenigmatica is a species of moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It was described by Heinrich in 1956. The species is known from Alberta, Canada, based on distribution records. Like other members of the genus Pyla, it belongs to a group of snout moths, though specific ecological and biological details remain poorly documented.
Pyla aequivoca
Pyla aequivoca is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by Carl Heinrich in 1956. It belongs to the subfamily Phycitinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as knot-horns or snout moths. The species is part of the genus Pyla, which contains multiple species distributed primarily in North America. Records of this species are sparse, with limited observational data available.
Pyla fusca
Speckled Black Pyla Moth
Pyla fusca is a snout moth in the subfamily Phycitinae with a Holarctic distribution. It is the only member of its genus found outside North America, making it taxonomically distinctive. The species is associated with heathland habitats, particularly areas of burnt heath where its dark coloration provides camouflage. Adults are active during summer months, and larvae feed on Ericaceae plants.
Pyla insinuatrix
Pyla insinuatrix is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Described by Carl Heinrich in 1956, this species belongs to a genus whose members are generally associated with woody plants. The species is known from a limited number of observations and specimens, reflecting the generally understudied nature of many phycitine moths.