Bug FAQInornate Pyrausta Moth
Pyrausta inornatalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Southern Pink Moth
The adult moth’s wingspan is about 13 to 16 millimetres. Its forewings are a uniform reddish-pink and the hindwings are pale brown-gray with a reddish-pink edge. It occurs in many U.S. states such as Arizona, California, Florida and Texas, and also in Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Forewings are uniformly reddish pink with no eye-spots or other markings. Hindwings are pale brownish-gray, lighter at the base and edged with reddish pink.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan of the adult is roughly 13 to 16 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed mainly on Salvia plants, such as Salvia farinacea, boring into unopened flower buds. Larval colour varies with the host plant, ranging from bluish-green to pale red.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from March through November.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight period extends from early spring to late fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to the United States and also occurs in Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, California, Virginia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Missouri, North Carolina, Maryland.
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
Where is this species found?
It occurs in many U.S. states such as Arizona, California, Florida and Texas, and also in Mexico.
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_inornatalis
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.