Walsingham's Grass Tubeworm Moth
Common NameWalsingham's Grass Tubeworm Moth
Scientific NameAcrolophus walsinghami
FamilyAcrolophidae
SubfamilyAcrolophinae
Wingspan (mm)23
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown
HabitatGrasslands, open woodlands, fields, meadows
Geographic RangeEastern North America (from Canada south to Florida, west to Texas)
Host Plantsgrasses (Poaceae)
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae construct silken tubes in the soil, feeding on the roots of various grasses. Pupation occurs within these tubes underground. Adults are nocturnal.
Identification TipsKey features include its shaggy head and thorax, mottled brown forewings with subtle darker markings, and a characteristic resting posture with wings held tent-like over the body. The robust, hairy appearance is typical for the genus Acrolophus.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with a robust, hairy body and forewings mottled with shades of brown, featuring indistinct darker bands. Its head and thorax are notably shaggy.
