Bug FAQFulvous-edged and Inornate Pyrausta Moths and Allies
Pyrausta nexalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Fulvous-edged Pyrausta, Fulvous-edged Pyrausta Moth
The adult has a wingspan of about 18 mm. Its forewings are dark brown except for a fulvous-brown basal two-thirds of the leading edge and show two thin white lines. Adults fly from February to March and again from May through November across many western U.S. states.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are dark fuscous with a fulvous-brown basal two-thirds of the costa. Two thin white hair-like lines cross the forewings.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan measures roughly 18 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range is in North America, specifically the listed western and southwestern U.S. states.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 13 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Texas, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are these moths active?
Adults are on the wing from February to March and again from May through November.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I recognize it?
Look for dark forewings with a fulvous-brown basal two-thirds of the leading edge and two thin white lines crossing the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalis
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_nexalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.