Grease Moth - Hodges#5518
Aglossa cuprina
This record describes Aglossa cuprina (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
top of head and neck pale yellowish; forewing brownish-gray with pale yellowish patches, lines and mottling; AM line has a single large V-shaped tooth extending into the medial area as a black streak
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
Geographic Range
Eastern North America plus California. Found throughout the world; perhaps introduced.
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August/September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: scavenger with a diet similar to Aglossa caprealis (Stored Grain Moth); larva feed on dried grain including corn meal, flour, granola and oats; adults feed on butter, suet, grease, excrement and dried remains of other insects. It's use as a tool of forensic importance is being researched. ( Wikipedia )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aglossa cuprina. 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 Grease Moth - Hodges#5518 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , marcie oconnor , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Grease Moth - Hodges#5518
What is Grease Moth - Hodges#5518?
Grease Moth - Hodges#5518 (Aglossa cuprina) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Grease Moth - Hodges#5518?
top of head and neck pale yellowish; forewing brownish-gray with pale yellowish patches, lines and mottling; AM line has a single large V-shaped tooth extending into the medial area as a black streak
Where is Grease Moth - Hodges#5518 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | around or in human habitations and buildings |
| Range | Eastern North America plus California. Found throughout the world; perhaps introduced. |
What does Grease Moth - Hodges#5518 eat?
The diet of the Grease Moth - Hodges#5518 includes scavenger with a diet similar to Aglossa caprealis (Stored Grain Moth); larva feed on dried grain including corn meal, flour, granola and oats; adults feed on butter, suet, grease, excrement and dried remains of other insects. It's use as a tool of forensic importance is being researched. ( Wikipedia ).
When is Grease Moth - Hodges#5518 active?
Grease Moth - Hodges#5518: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August/September.