Spilomelinae
Guides
Marasmia
Marasmia is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. It was established by Julius Lederer in 1863 and is currently treated as a synonym of Cnaphalocrocis in most modern taxonomic databases, though it remains in use in some literature. The genus includes species that are significant agricultural pests, particularly of rice crops. The best-known species, Marasmia ruralis (also known as Cnaphalocrocis medinalis or the rice leaf roller), causes substantial damage to global rice production by folding leaves for feeding and shelter.
Margaroniini
Margaroniini is the most species-rich tribe within the subfamily Spilomelinae (Crambidae), comprising approximately 1,116 species across 74 genera. The tribe was established in 1889 and includes numerous economically significant agricultural pests. Many species have larvae that feed on cultivated crops, causing substantial damage to legumes, cucurbits, olives, peaches, coconuts, and box trees.
Mecyna
Mecyna is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus was established by Henry Doubleday in 1849 and contains approximately 35 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. Species in this genus are generally small to medium-sized moths with varied coloration including brown, yellow, and white patterns.
Mecyna sp-one
Mecyna sp-one is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. As a member of the genus Mecyna, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized crambid moths. The specific epithet "sp-one" indicates this is a placeholder designation for an undescribed or informally recognized species. Records of this taxon are limited in published literature.
Microthyris
Microthyris is a genus of pyraloid moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus was established by Julius Lederer in 1863 and includes seven described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Species such as Microthyris lelex and Microthyris alvinalis are among the better-documented members. The genus belongs to the diverse grass moth family, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Microthyris prolongalis
Microthyris prolongalis is a crambid moth described by Achille Guenée in 1854. It has a wingspan of approximately 33 mm and occurs from Brazil northward through Central America, the Caribbean, and into the southern United States (Texas and Florida). Adults are active during multiple months in Florida, with records from June, October, and December. The larvae feed on Ipomoea species.
Mimophobetron
Mimophobetron is a monotypic moth genus in the family Crambidae, established by Eugene G. Munroe in 1950. The genus contains a single species, Mimophobetron pyropsalis, originally described by George Hampson in 1904. It is found in parts of Central America, the Caribbean, and the southeastern United States.
Mimorista
Mimorista is a genus of snout moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus was established by William Warren in 1890 and contains approximately 15 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Most species were described in the early 20th century by entomologists such as Hampson and Möschler. The genus is placed within the diverse and species-rich subfamily Spilomelinae, one of the largest groups of pyraloid moths.
Mimorista trimaculalis
Mimorista trimaculalis is a small crambid moth described by Grote in 1878. It occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States. Adults are active during the warm season, with records spanning May through September. The species name refers to the three spots (tri-maculalis) characteristic of its wing pattern.
Mimorista tristigmalis
Mimorista tristigmalis is a crambid moth described by Hampson in 1898. It is found in Cuba and Florida, USA. Adults have a wingspan of 25–28 mm and display distinctive black markings on ochreous-white forewings. The species shows multi-peak adult activity in Florida, occurring in winter, spring, and late autumn.
Neoleucinodes prophetica
potato tree borer
Neoleucinodes prophetica, commonly known as the potato tree borer, is a small moth in the family Crambidae. The species was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914. It has been recorded across the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and southern Florida. The larvae are specialized fruit borers on Solanum host plants.
Nomophilini
Nomophilini is a tribe within the subfamily Spilomelinae of the Crambidae moth family. The tribe was erected in 1979 and contains 24 genera with approximately 358 species. It includes economically significant genera such as Nomophila, which contains the rice leaffolder (Nomophila noctuella), a notable agricultural pest. The tribe is characterized by diverse feeding habits across its constituent genera.
Ommatospila
Ommatospila is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. It was established by Julius Lederer in 1863 and contains three described species distributed across the Americas. The genus belongs to a diverse group of pyraloid moths commonly known as grass moths or snout moths.
Palpita
Palpita Moths
Palpita is a genus of crambid moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus includes numerous species distributed across multiple continents, with several species recognized as significant agricultural pests. Notable pest species include Palpita forficifera and Palpita unionalis, which are major pests of olive trees in Brazil, Uruguay, and the Mediterranean region. Other species such as Palpita (Diaphania) indica feed on cucurbits, while Palpita flegia feeds on Cascabela thevetia. The genus is taxonomically complex, with members of the genus Stemorrhages appearing very similar in appearance.
Palpita aenescentalis
Palpita aenescentalis is a moth species in the family Crambidae, described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1952. It is known from eastern and central North America, with records spanning from Canada to the southeastern United States. The species belongs to a large genus of snout moths, many of which are associated with woody plants.
Palpita atrisquamalis
Gracile Palpita Moth
Palpita atrisquamalis is a moth in the family Crambidae, currently treated as a synonym of Palpita gracilalis. It is known from western and south-central North America, ranging from California eastward to Texas and Oklahoma. The species belongs to the subfamily Spilomelinae, a diverse group of snout moths.
Palpita freemanalis
Freeman's Palpita Moth
Palpita freemanalis is a small crambid moth in the subfamily Spilomelinae, described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1952. It occurs across the southeastern and central United States, with adults active primarily during late summer. The species is characterized by its modest size and relatively broad geographic distribution within its range.
Patania
mother of pearl moth
Patania is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae, established by Frederic Moore in 1888. The genus was long treated as a junior synonym of Syllepte but was reinstated as valid in 2007, rendering Pleuroptya a junior subjective synonym. The genus contains multiple species across Asia and Europe, with some species recently transferred to the reinstated genus Nagiella.
Patania silicalis
Herbivorous Patania Moth, Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth
Patania silicalis is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of 24–26 mm, found across the Neotropics and into the eastern United States. First described by Guenée in 1854, it has undergone multiple generic reassignments and is also known under the synonym Pleuroptya silicalis. The species is notable for its broad host plant range, feeding on at least seven plant species across five families.
Pilocrocis
Pilocrocis is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae, erected by Julius Lederer in 1863. The genus is part of the diverse snout moth family and is distributed in North America, with confirmed records from the United States including Vermont. As a genus-level taxon, Pilocrocis encompasses multiple species-level moths, though specific species details are not well-documented in available sources.
Polygrammodes
Polygrammodes is a genus of crambid snout moths in the subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus contains multiple species distributed primarily in the New World. Adults are typically medium-sized moths with relatively broad wings. Larval stages are associated with various host plants, though specific associations vary by species.
Polygrammodes flavidalis
Ironweed Root Moth
Polygrammodes flavidalis is a crambid moth commonly known as the ironweed root moth. It is widely distributed across eastern and central North America, with records spanning from Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas. The common name references its association with ironweed plants (genus Vernonia).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Steniodes declivalis
Steniodes declivalis is a small crambid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914. It is distinguished from the similar Steniodes gelliasalis by its smaller size, darker coloration, and a sharply angled whitish outer line on the hindwings that touches the outer margin. The species occurs in Panama, Costa Rica, and Venezuela.
Syngamia
Syngamia is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae, established by Guenée in 1854. The genus contains approximately 24 recognized species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Members are small to medium-sized pyraloid moths, with several species exhibiting distinctive color patterns including orange, yellow, or violet markings.
Terastia
Terastia is a genus of snout moths (Crambidae) comprising eight species distributed across tropical regions worldwide. First described by Achille Guenée in 1854 with Terastia meticulosalis as the type species, the genus is currently classified within the tribe Margaroniini. Species occur in the Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Oriental realms as well as Australasia. Caterpillars are known to feed exclusively on Erythrina species (Fabaceae), a trait shared with related genera Agathodes and Liopasia.
Udea
celery leaftier moth (U. rubigalis), snout moths
Udea is a genus of snout moths in the subfamily Spilomelinae of the family Crambidae, erected by Achille Guenée in 1845. The genus comprises approximately 216 known species distributed across all continents except Antarctica, with notable diversity in Hawaii where about 41 species are native. Udea is placed in the tribe Udeini and is closely related to the genera Mnesictena, Deana, and Udeoides. The genus has been the subject of taxonomic revision, with former species transferred to other genera including Evergestis, Lirabotys, Achyra, Pyrausta, and Metasia.
Udea abstrusa
Udea abstrusa is a small crambid moth described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1966. It is distributed across western North America from the Canadian prairie provinces and northern territories south through the Rocky Mountains to Colorado and New Mexico. The species exhibits notable subspecific variation, with four recognized subspecies occupying distinct geographic ranges. Adults are active in mid-summer.
Udea livida
Udea livida is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1966. The species is known from a limited number of records in western North America, specifically from British Columbia, Washington, and Utah. As a member of the genus Udea, it belongs to a diverse group of snout moths, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.
Udea octosignalis
Udea octosignalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. It is known from limited records in California and Texas. The species has a wingspan of approximately 20 mm and exhibits distinctive light ocherous forewings with buff markings.
Udea radiosalis
Udea radiosalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Möschler in 1883. The species occurs across western North America from the Canadian prairies to the southwestern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is a nocturnal insect with documented activity on flowering plants. The species is part of a group of moths that have been observed visiting apple blossoms, contributing to nocturnal pollination services in agricultural settings.
Udea rubigalis
Celery Leaftier, Greenhouse Leaftier
Udea rubigalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, commonly known as the celery leaftier or greenhouse leaftier. The species occurs throughout the Americas, from North America through Central and South America. Larvae are polyphagous and feed on a wide variety of plants across multiple families. Adults have been documented visiting apple flowers, where they may contribute to nocturnal pollination.
Udea vacunalis
Udea vacunalis is a small crambid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. It is known only from California, with adults active during summer months. The species is characterized by pale, nearly unmarked wings with distinctive marginal dotting on the hindwings.
Udeini
Udeini is a tribe of pyraloid moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae, erected in 2019 based on three genitalic synapomorphies. It comprises nine genera and 262 species, including the large, cosmopolitan genus Udea (214 species) and several geographically restricted genera. The tribe is notable for retaining plesiomorphic characters shared with the sister group Pyraustinae, distinguishing it from other Spilomelinae.