Crambidae

Pohl, Greg, Anweiler, Gary, Schmidt, Christian & Kondla, Norbert, 2010, An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada, ZooKeys 38 (38), pp. 1-549 : 149-151

46. Crambidae – snout moths

A diverse family of moths that until recently was considered to be a subfamily of Pyralidae . They can be separated from all other moths except the Pyralidae by the presence of tympanal chambers on the base of the abdomen, in the space between the thorax and abdomen. They can be separated from the Pyralidae by having a broad opening of the tympanal chambers, and the presence of a large flap (the praecinctorum) over the tympana, between the thorax and abdomen. Several crambid species in a number of subfamilies superficially resemble noctuids but can be easily distinguished from them by the scaled proboscis (in all Pyraloidea). Larvae of most species are borers or concealed feeders of plants. Many species feed on primitive plants such as mosses, rushes, and grasses. Several species are pests of cereal crops.

Over 11 000 species of crambids are known worldwide. In North America, 770 species are known, 121 of which are reported herein from AB. Th e arrangement of subfamilies, tribes, and genera presented here follows Munroe et al. (1995).

46.1. Scopariinae

Small (10–30 mm wingspan) moths with brown and white or black and white triangular forewings. They can be separated from other Crambidae by the presence of indistinct black scale tufts on the forewings. Larvae are borers or leaf webbers of primitive or higher plants.

Four hundred and seventy-nine species of Scopariinae are known worldwide, from all regions. Th irty-seven species are known in North America, six of which are reported from AB. Th e group was revised by Munroe (1972a).

934 * R h Gesneria centuriella ([Denis and Schiffermüller], 1775) Jun – Jul M B G T: Munroe (1972a) L: Kearfott (1905), Bowman (1951), Munroe (1972a) C: AGRL, CNC, NFRC, OLDS, UASM

935 * R Scoparia biplagialis Walker, 1866 M Jul – E Aug m B – T: Munroe (1972a) L:? Munroe (1972a), Pohl et al. (2004b) C: NFRC, OLDS, UASM

936 * U Scoparia basalis Walker, 1866 Jul M b g T: Munroe (1972a) L: Bowman (1951) C:?CNC,?UASM

937 R Eudonia albertalis (Dyar, 1929) Jul M B – T: Munroe (1972a) L: Bowman (1951), Munroe (1972a), Pohl et al. (2004b) C: CNC, NFRC, OLDS

938 R Eudonia spaldingalis (Barnes and McDunnough, 1912) Jul M – – T: Munroe (1972a) L: Munroe (1972a) C: CNC, NFRC

939 * R Eudonia lugubralis (Walker, 1866) Jun – Aug M B g T: Munroe (1972a) L: Bowman (1951), Munroe (1972a), Lafontaine and Wood (1997) C: CNC,?NFRC, UASM

46.2. Crambinae – grass moths

Small to medium-sized (10–35 mm wingspan) moths with elongate palps, narrow triangular forewings, and fan-shaped hindwings. Most species have forewings marked

with longitudinal dark and light marks. Adults generally rest head downward, with their wings rolled into a tight tube. Larvae are stem borers or root feeders, predominantly on grasses. Several species are turf pests.

Approximately 1900 species of Crambinae are known worldwide. One hundred and ninety-three species are known in North America, 45 of which are reported from AB. Th e group is in need of a modern species-level revision, and useful references are scattered. Landry (1995) revised the tribes and genera. Fernald (1896) and Kearfott (1908) provided the most recent coverage of many species; other groups have been treated more recently by Klots (1940, 1942, 1968, 1970), Capps (1965, 1966), and Bleszynski (1970).