One-banded Pyrausta
Common NameOne-banded Pyrausta
Scientific NamePyrausta unifascialis
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyPyraustinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgray, brown, black, white
HabitatDry, open areas, grasslands, prairies, open woodlands
Geographic RangeNorth America (widespread across the continent, more common in western and central regions)
Host PlantsMonarda, Pycnanthemum, Mentha
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae). The moth undergoes complete metamorphosis, with eggs laid on host plants, larvae feeding on foliage, pupating, and emerging as adults.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, mottled gray-brown coloration, and the often faint but present pale median band on the forewings. Distinguishing it from similar *Pyrausta* species may require close examination of wing patterns.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled gray and brown forewings, often featuring a subtle, pale band across the middle.
