Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
formerly placed in family Pyralidae
Numbers
The only species in this genus in North America listed at
nearctica.com
common to abundant
Identification
Adult: cinnamon-brown with narrow white bands on forewing; median band broken, very narrow toward inner margin; hindwing median band complete, with outward bulge at midpoint; wing bands may be dark (brownish or grayish-yellow) in some individuals; fringe of both wings with dark and light patches
Larva: green with purple dots on head
Range
Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Michigan and Ontario
Season
adults fly from April to November
Food
Larvae feed on beets, chard, potatoes, Amaranth, and various greenhouse plants
See Also
Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth has broader and sharper white bands on forewing, with the median band ending in a fish-hook shape, and the hindwing band is smooth-margined (not toothed) and doesn't bulge outward in the middle
other dark-winged crambids have a different pattern of white lines or spots on forewing (see
comparison images of several species at MPG)
Internet References
live and pinned adult images by various photographers (Moth Photographers Group)
live adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)
pinned adult image of dark specimen (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)
common name reference plus food plants and flight season (Ohio State U.)
presence in Ontario; list (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
