Bug FAQOne-banded Pyrausta
Pyrausta unifascialis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Pussytoes Pyrausta Moth
The one-banded pyrausta has a wingspan of about 16 to 24 mm. It lives in forest openings, clearings and fields across North America from Quebec to British Columbia and south to Arizona and California. Adults are on the wing from April through August.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Pyrausta unifascialis belongs to the moth family Crambidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges between 16 and 24 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It prefers forest openings, clearings and fields.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on a variety of plants, including Antennaria, Phaseolus, Eriogonum and Gayophytum species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from April to August.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans April through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is found in North America, from Quebec west to British Columbia and south to Arizona and California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 19 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Colorado, Oregon, New Hampshire, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Michigan.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult one-banded pyrausta?
Adults are on the wing from April through August.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on Antennaria, Phaseolus, Eriogonum and Gayophytum species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does this moth live?
It lives in forest openings, clearings and fields across much of North America.
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_unifascialis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.