Bug FAQSchaeffer's Petrophila
Petrophila schaefferalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Male Schaeffer's Petrophila have a wingspan of about 17 to 20 mm, while females are larger at 24 to 29 mm. The species lives in the southern United States to Arizona, California and Texas to and also in Mexico near Xalapa, where its larvae develop in water. Adults are on the wing from spring through late summer, roughly April to September.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of 17 to 20 mm and females 24 to 29 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae are aquatic.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults have been observed flying from April through September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It occurs in the southern United States, including Arizona, California and Texas, and also in Mexico near Xalapa.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, California, Texas, Arkansas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult Schaeffer's Petrophila active?
Adults are on the wing from April to September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find Schaeffer's Petrophila?
They are recorded in Arizona, California and Texas in the US and in Xalapa, Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
How big are Schaeffer's Petrophila moths?
Males measure 17 to 20 mm in wingspan, while females are larger at 24 to 29 mm.
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/Petrophila_schaefferalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.