Bug FAQRaspberry Pyrausta Moth
Pyrausta signatalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
The Raspberry Pyrausta Moth lives in aspen parkland and grasslands. Its larvae eat the flowers and seeds of Monarda plants such as Monarda fistulosa. Adults appear in June-July and again in August, showing at least two generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It inhabits aspen parkland and grassland areas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on Monarda species, especially the reproductive parts like flowers and seeds.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Larvae collected in July-August feed on Monarda flowers, pupate in August, and the species overwinters as a prepupa inside a cocoon.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults have been recorded in June-early July and again in August, indicating at least a partial second generation.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 42 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont.
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 are Raspberry Pyrausta Moths active?
Adults are seen in June-early July and again in August.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
They feed on the flowers and seeds of Monarda plants, such as Monarda fistulosa.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find this moth?
It lives in aspen parkland and grasslands across much of North America, from British Columbia to Ontario and south to the Carolinas, Texas and Arizona.
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_signatalis
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.