Belted Grass-veneer
Common NameBelted Grass-veneer
Scientific NameCrambus agitatellus
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyCrambinae
Wingspan (mm)21
Primary Colorspale yellow, cream, brown, black
HabitatGrassy areas, lawns, fields, open woodlands
Geographic RangeEastern North America (from southern Canada to Florida and west to Texas)
Host Plantsvarious grasses (Poaceae)
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are subterranean or at the base of grass stems, feeding on roots and stems of grasses. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon in the soil.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive pale median band and the row of dark, often crescent-shaped, terminal spots on the forewings. Its small size and typical grass-veneer resting posture (wings wrapped tightly around the body) are also key.
Description
A small, slender moth with pale yellowish-cream forewings featuring a prominent, slightly angled pale median band and a series of dark, often crescent-shaped spots along the termen.
