Bug FAQHoary Pyrausta
Pyrausta dapalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
The forewings measure about 7 to 9.5 mm in length. Adults are seen flying from early January through March. The species lives in western North America, recorded in California and Oregon.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Pyrausta dapalis belongs to the moth family Crambidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its forewing length ranges from 7 to 9.5 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It has been recorded in the western United States, specifically California and Oregon.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae have been reared on several species of Salvia.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from early January to March.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The moth is native to western North America, with records from California and Oregon.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Washington, Idaho, Oregon.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult Pyrausta dapalis moths active?
Adults have been recorded flying from early January through March.
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_dapalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.