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Species Aglossa cuprina - Grease Moth - Hodges#5518

Grease Moth - Hodges#5518 - Aglossa cuprina Grease Moth - Aglossa cuprina Moth ID Please - Aglossa cuprina Moth - Aglossa cuprina Grease Moth - Aglossa cuprina Aglossa cuprina Aglossa cuprina Aglossa cuprina (Grease Moth) - Aglossa cuprina
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)
Family Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
Subfamily Pyralinae
Tribe Pyralini
Genus Aglossa
Species cuprina (Grease Moth - Hodges#5518)
Hodges Number
5518
Identification
top of head and neck pale yellowish; forewing brownish-gray with pale yellowish patches, lines and mottling; AM line has a single large V-shaped "tooth" extending into the medial area as a black streak
Range
Eastern North America plus California. Found throughout the world; perhaps introduced.
Habitat
around or in human habitations and buildings
Season
adults fly from June to August/September
Food
scavenger with a diet similar to Aglossa caprealis (Stored Grain Moth); larva feed on dried grain including corn meal, flour, granola and oats; adults feed on butter, suet, grease, excrement and dried remains of other insects. It's use as a tool of forensic importance is being researched. (Wikipedia)
See Also
very similar to Stored Grain Moth (A. caprealis), which is dark on the top of the head and neck, and has a shallow zigzag AM line whose "teeth" are all about the same size
Internet References
adult images and flight season (Larry Line, Maryland)