Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517
Aglossa caprealis
This record describes Aglossa caprealis (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: top of head and neck dark; forewing shiny, brownish-gray with pale yellowish patches and lines; reniform spot dark, circular, surrounding by pale ring; AM line thick, sharp-angled but shallow zigzag; ST line thick and straight at costa and inner margin, middle portion U-shaped, thin, jagged Larva: black with small whitish spots and sparse hairs Probably introduced from western Eurasia, like other Aglossa
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyralinae
- Tribe
- Pyralini
- Genus
- Aglossa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
around or in human habitations and buildings: homes, outhouses, barns, stables
Geographic Range
most of North America plus Eurasia, Australia & New Zealand, and probably other places throughout the world
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to September in the northern hemisphere, but may be found in any month indoors
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on stored foods, vegetable debris, grain chaff, fungi, and dead animals
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aglossa caprealis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , marcie oconnor , KenW
Frequently Asked Questions About Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517
What is Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517?
Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517 (Aglossa caprealis) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517?
wingspan 23-27 mm
How do you identify Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517?
Adult: top of head and neck dark; forewing shiny, brownish-gray with pale yellowish patches and lines; reniform spot dark, circular, surrounding by pale ring; AM line thick, sharp-angled but shallow zigzag; ST line thick and straight at costa and inner margin, middle portion U-shaped, thin, jagged Larva: black with small whitish spots and sparse hairs
Where is Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | around or in human habitations and buildings: homes, outhouses, barns, stables |
| Range | most of North America plus Eurasia, Australia & New Zealand, and probably other places throughout the world |
What does Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517 eat?
The diet of the Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517 includes larvae feed on stored foods, vegetable debris, grain chaff, fungi, and dead animals.
When is Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517 active?
Stored Grain Moth - Hodges#5517: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to September in the northern hemisphere, but may be found in any month indoors.