Bug FAQCalifornia Pyrausta Moth
Pyrausta californicalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
The California pyrausta moth has a wingspan of about 13 mm. It lives in North America from British Columbia down to California. Adults are seen from February through October.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Alpheus Spring Packard first described the species in 1873.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan measures roughly 13 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is recorded across North America, from British Columbia to California.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on mint plants in the Mentha genus.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults have been observed on the wing from February through October.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans February to October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes North America, specifically from British Columbia to California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 6 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are California pyrausta moths active?
Adults are active from February through October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
It occurs in North America from British Columbia to California.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrausta_californicalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.