Bug FAQScarce Straw Pearl
Paracorsia repandalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Mullein Moth
The scarce straw pearl moth has a wingspan of about 24 to 28 mm. Larvae feed on several mullein species such as Verbascum lychnitis, V. thapsus and V. phlomoides.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Paracorsia is a monotypic genus of Crambidae described by H. Marion in 1959.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan ranges from 24 to 28 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on Verbascum species, including V. lychnitis, V. thapsus and V. phlomoides.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from April to October, producing two generations each year. Pupation occurs in early spring after the larvae hibernate in a case.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen flying between April and October, covering two seasonal broods.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Elsewhere it is found throughout much of Europe and central Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 22 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey.
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 scarce straw pearl moths active?
Adults fly from April through October, with two generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae of scarce straw pearl moth eat?
The caterpillars feed on mullein plants such as Verbascum lychnitis, V. thapsus and V. phlomoides.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
It produces two generations annually, with adults present from April to October.
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/Paracorsia
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.