Snowy Urola Moth – Urola nivalis
Hodges#5464
Snowy Urola – Hodges#5464 Crambid Snout Moths (Crambidae) / Crambine Snout Moths (Crambinae)
Live adult moths photographed at Castle Rock State Park and Lockport Prairie, Illinois. Size: 8mm.
The snowy urola moth is well-known for the blinding-white, silky appearance of the wings. Indeed, its flight is easily followed in weedy fields and waste places ranging from eastern North America west to Illinois and Texas; southern Canada south to Florida and northern Mexico.
Family Crambidae contains about 850 species in 9 subfamilies in North America, and about 11,630 described species in 15 subfamilies in the world [1]. Formerly classified as a subfamily of Pyralidae, the snout moths include many important agricultural pest species:
- Grape leaf-folder: Larvae are leaf-tiers and pests in vineyards
- Sod Webworm: Crambid larvae are pests of lawns and golf courses.
- Sugar Cane Borer: Crop pest in sugar cane, sorghum, rice, and other grasses
- Southwestern corn borer: pest in numerous crops; corn, sorghum, millet, sugar cane [2]
References
- Bugguide.net, “Snowy Urola Moth“
- Wikipedia, “Sugarcane Borer” “Crambus” “Crambidae“
- Texas A&M University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, “Urola nivalis”
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