Bug FAQVolupial Mint Moth
Pyrausta volupialis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Volupial Pyrausta Moth
The adult moth’s forewings measure about 8 to 10.5 mm long. It lives across many western U.S. states and down into Chiapas, Mexico. Larvae eat plants in the mint family, such as rosemary.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults have been observed throughout the entire year.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length ranges from 8 mm to 10.5 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on members of the Lamiaceae family, including rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are present year-round.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults have been recorded throughout all seasons.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes many western U.S. states and extends into Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 19 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Nevada, Kansas.
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
Where is this moth found?
It occurs in many western U.S. states and reaches into Chiapas, 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_volupialis
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.