Species Pyralis farinalis - Meal Moth - Hodges#5510

5510

Pyralis farinalis Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms

Asopia domesticalis Zeller, 1847

Phalaena (Pyralis) farinalis Linnaeus, 1758

Pyralis fraterna Butler, 1879

P. manihotalis Matsumura, 1900 (non Guenée, 1854: preoccupied)

P. marianii Hartig, 1951

P. meridionalis Schmidt, 1934

P. orientalis Amsel, 1961

P. sardoplumbea Schawerda, 1936

Specific epithet farinalis from the Latin "farina" (ground corn) - Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1983

The only species in the genus found in America north of Mexico

wingspan 18-30 mm

larvae to 20 mm

Adult: forewing crossed by two white lines, the basal line curved in an arc, and the distal line wavy; area between the lines is light yellowish-brown; areas outside the distal line and inside the basal line are darker brown; hindwing pale brown, crossed by two wavy white lines; distal half of wing with several dark patches adults rest characteristically with the tip of the abdomen curved up at right-angles to the body.

Larva: body cream-colored, hairless; head brown

worldwide

mainly in homes, barns, warehouses and other buildings where grain or processed grain products are stored

adults fly from May to August outdoors, and may be found any time of year indoors

larvae (caterpillars) feed on stored grain, grain products, clover hay, and alfalfa hay.

a pest of stored grain and grain products throughout the world

Moth Photographers Group (1)

pinned adult image by John Glaser (Dalton State College, Georgia)

adult images and other info (Larry Line, Maryland)

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (2)