The
Pyralidae or
snout mothA moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. The differences between butterflies and moths are more than just taxonomy. Sometimes the names "Rhopalocera" and "Heterocera" are used to formalize the popular distinction...
s are a family of
LepidopteraLepidoptera is an order of insects that includes moths and butterflies. It is one of the most speciose orders in the class Insecta, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
.
In many classifications, the
CrambidaeThe Crambidae are the grass moth family of Lepidoptera . They are quite variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae taking up closely folded postures on grass-stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies include brightly coloured and patterned insects which rest in...
or grass moths have been treated as a sub-division of the Pyralidae, the combination being one of the largest families in the Lepidoptera. The latest review by Munroe & Solis, in Kristensen (1999) retains the Crambidae as a full family.
- sunflower moth, Homoeosoma nebulella
Homoeosoma nebulella is a moth of the Pyralidae family. It is found in Western Europe, West Africa, Anatolia and the Middle East.The wingspan is 20–27 mm.The larvae feed on Cirsium vulgare, Senecio jacobaea, Tanacetum vulgare and Leucanthemum vulgare....
- Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella - cosmopolitan pests, dining on stored grains, spices, and similar dry vegetable products
- meal moth, Pyralis farinalis
The Meal Moth is a cosmopolitan pest of stored food products—or rather, the caterpillar is .At rest, adult moths typically hold the tip of their abdomen at 90° to their body....
- cosmopolitanIn biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is a state of being found almost anywhere around the world. A cosmopolitan biological category, e.g. genus, may be called a cosmopolite.Examples of cosmopolitan species:* Humans* House dust mite...
, larvae infest store grain
- greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella
The Greater Wax Moth or Honeycomb Moth is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is the only member of the genus Galleria. It is found in most of the world, including Europe, North America, Turkey, Russia and Australia, where it is an introduced species. Its wingspan is 30–41 mm. The moth flies from...
- Parasite of bee hives
- lesser wax moth
Achroia grisella, the lesser wax moth is a moth of the Galleriinae subfamily of the Pyralidae family, of the Lepidoptera order. Wax moths were first seen in North America in 1806. People believe they came over with honeybees from Europe. The lesser wax moth is very common all over the world, except...
, Achroia grisella - Parasite of bee hives
Note that the
European corn borerThe European Corn Borer is a pest of grain, particularly maize. The insect is native to Europe originally infesting varieties of millet including broom corn. The European corn borer was first reported in North America in 1917 in Massachusetts, but was probably introduced from Europe several...
(
Ostrinia nubilalis) is located in the
CrambidaeThe Crambidae are the grass moth family of Lepidoptera . They are quite variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae taking up closely folded postures on grass-stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies include brightly coloured and patterned insects which rest in...
which, as noted above, is currently regarded as a separate family.
- alligator weed stem borer
Arcola malloi is a species of snout moth known as the alligator weed stem borer. It is used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious aquatic plant known as alligator weed .This moth is native to South America. It was introduced to the United States in the 1970s to attack the...
, Arcola malloi - a biological pest controlBiological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
agent used against the alligator weedAlternanthera philoxeroides, commonly known as Alligator weed, is an immersed aquatic plant. It originated in South America, but has spread to many parts of the world and is considered an invasive species in Australia, China, New Zealand, Thailand and the United States.Alligator weed can grow in a...
The
Chrysauginae comprise about 400 species occurring predominantly in the Neotropical region.
Discussion
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The
Pyralidae or
snout mothA moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. The differences between butterflies and moths are more than just taxonomy. Sometimes the names "Rhopalocera" and "Heterocera" are used to formalize the popular distinction...
s are a family of
LepidopteraLepidoptera is an order of insects that includes moths and butterflies. It is one of the most speciose orders in the class Insecta, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
.
In many classifications, the
CrambidaeThe Crambidae are the grass moth family of Lepidoptera . They are quite variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae taking up closely folded postures on grass-stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies include brightly coloured and patterned insects which rest in...
or grass moths have been treated as a sub-division of the Pyralidae, the combination being one of the largest families in the Lepidoptera. The latest review by Munroe & Solis, in Kristensen (1999) retains the Crambidae as a full family.
Harmful Pyralids
- sunflower moth, Homoeosoma nebulella
Homoeosoma nebulella is a moth of the Pyralidae family. It is found in Western Europe, West Africa, Anatolia and the Middle East.The wingspan is 20–27 mm.The larvae feed on Cirsium vulgare, Senecio jacobaea, Tanacetum vulgare and Leucanthemum vulgare....
- Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella - cosmopolitan pests, dining on stored grains, spices, and similar dry vegetable products
- meal moth, Pyralis farinalis
The Meal Moth is a cosmopolitan pest of stored food products—or rather, the caterpillar is .At rest, adult moths typically hold the tip of their abdomen at 90° to their body....
- cosmopolitanIn biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is a state of being found almost anywhere around the world. A cosmopolitan biological category, e.g. genus, may be called a cosmopolite.Examples of cosmopolitan species:* Humans* House dust mite...
, larvae infest store grain
- greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella
The Greater Wax Moth or Honeycomb Moth is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is the only member of the genus Galleria. It is found in most of the world, including Europe, North America, Turkey, Russia and Australia, where it is an introduced species. Its wingspan is 30–41 mm. The moth flies from...
- Parasite of bee hives
- lesser wax moth
Achroia grisella, the lesser wax moth is a moth of the Galleriinae subfamily of the Pyralidae family, of the Lepidoptera order. Wax moths were first seen in North America in 1806. People believe they came over with honeybees from Europe. The lesser wax moth is very common all over the world, except...
, Achroia grisella - Parasite of bee hives
Note that the
European corn borerThe European Corn Borer is a pest of grain, particularly maize. The insect is native to Europe originally infesting varieties of millet including broom corn. The European corn borer was first reported in North America in 1917 in Massachusetts, but was probably introduced from Europe several...
(
Ostrinia nubilalis) is located in the
CrambidaeThe Crambidae are the grass moth family of Lepidoptera . They are quite variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae taking up closely folded postures on grass-stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies include brightly coloured and patterned insects which rest in...
which, as noted above, is currently regarded as a separate family.
Useful Pyralids
- alligator weed stem borer
Arcola malloi is a species of snout moth known as the alligator weed stem borer. It is used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious aquatic plant known as alligator weed .This moth is native to South America. It was introduced to the United States in the 1970s to attack the...
, Arcola malloi - a biological pest controlBiological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
agent used against the alligator weedAlternanthera philoxeroides, commonly known as Alligator weed, is an immersed aquatic plant. It originated in South America, but has spread to many parts of the world and is considered an invasive species in Australia, China, New Zealand, Thailand and the United States.Alligator weed can grow in a...
Subfamilies
The
Chrysauginae comprise about 400 species occurring predominantly in the Neotropical region. Larvae can be seed, fruit, stem and root borers, and leaf rollers and tiers. Some are myrmecophilous. The adults of Cryptoses, Bradypodicola and Bradypophila live in the fur of sloths and their larvae develop in sloth dung. Larvae of other species have been found feeding on wasp nests and on spines of Automeris spp. (Saturniidae) caterpillars. Most larvae have a sclerotised ring around SD1 of the metathorax.
The
Epipaschiinae comprise over 550 described species in the tropical and temperate regions, except Europe. Larvae are leaf rollers, leaf tiers or leaf miners. A few species are minor pests of mahagonies, avocado, and corn (Zea mays). Males of many species have a conspicuous scaled projection from the scape of the antennae. Epipaschiinae are supported as a monophyletic group by three characters of the males: (1) an always upturned and pointed third segment of the labial palpi, (2) a ventrally curved phallobase of the male which usually extends beyond the ductus ejaculatorius, and (3) the weakly sclerotised tegumen.
The
Galleriinae comprise about 300 species worldwide. Larvae of some species, such as Corcyra cephalonica (rice moth) feed on dry vegetable matter, while the larvae of other species are known to live in hymenopteran nests feeding on combs and animal debris (e.g. Galleria mellonella, the wax moth). Sound production by the tegulae of adult males has been studied for purposes of monitoring and control of pest species. The males of galleriine moths have no gnathos, the pupae have a prominent median ridge on the thorax and abdomen dorsally, and most larvae have a sclerotised ring around SD1 of A1.
The
Phycitinae (= Anerastiinae, Peoriinae) are probably the most difficult group of Pyraloidea in terms of identification and classification. They comprise more than 600 genera and about 4000 species. Phycitines occur throughout the world. Their larvae are mostly leaf rollers, but some are inquilines in galls, seed feeders, or predators of Homoptera. There is strong evidence that the Phycitinae are monophyletic: (1) The larva has a sclerotised area encircling the base of seta SD1 on the mesothorax, and (2) the female frenulum is composed of multiple acanthae into one bristle as in males.
The
Acentropinae (= Nymphulinae) comprise more than 700 species worldwide. The early stages are almost always aquatic. Acentropinae are supported as monophyletic by the presence of enlarged, chimney-like stigmata on abdominal segments 2 to 4 of the pupa.
See also
External links
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