Invisible Crambid
Common NameInvisible Crambid
Scientific NameCrambus praefectellus
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyCrambinae
Wingspan (mm)21
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsorange, brown, white
HabitatGrassy areas, fields, meadows, lawns
Geographic RangeEastern North America (from Canada south to Florida, west to Texas and Kansas)
Host Plantsgrasses
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are subterranean or live in silken tubes at the base of grass stems, feeding on roots and lower parts of the plants. Pupation occurs in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include the orange-brown forewings with a clear white longitudinal stripe, often bordered by dark lines, and its relatively small size. The prominent, forward-projecting labial palps are characteristic of this species and many other grass moths.
Description
A small, slender moth with yellowish-brown to orange-brown forewings featuring a prominent white longitudinal stripe running from the base to the apex, often bordered by darker lines. Its head and thorax are pale, and it has distinctive forward-projecting labial palps.
