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| Crambidae | ||||||||||||||
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| Diversity | ||||||||||||||
| Some 11,630 species | ||||||||||||||
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Cathariinae |
The Crambidae are the grass moth family of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). They are quite variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae (grass moths) taking up closely folded postures on grass-stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies include brightly coloured and patterned insects which rest in wing-spread attitudes.
In many classifications, the Crambidae have been treated as a subfamily of the Pyralidae or snout-moths. The principal difference is a structure in the ears called the praecinctorium, which joins two tympanic membranes in the Crambidae, and is absent from the Pyralidae. It would seem to be a matter of personal opinion (therefore not susceptible to definitive decision) whether this distinction merits division into two families, or whether the common presence of ventrally-located ears should unify them into one family. The latest review by Munroe & Solis, in Kristensen (1999) retains the Crambidae as a full family.
Useful Crambids
- Waterhyacinth moth Niphograpta albiguttalis, used to control its host (Eichhornia crassipes), in Florida
Harmless Crambids
- Mint moth Pyrausta aurata
Harmful Crambids
Crambid larvae are typically stem borers in plants of the grass family. As this family contains many important crops, some Crambidae species achieve pest status. The European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis is perhaps the best known - introduced to the USA in the early 1900s, it is now widespread in all but the westernmost states. Other pest species include:
- Chilo partellus, Spotted Stalk Borer
- Chilo suppressalis, Asiatic Rice Borer
- Crambus spp., Sod Webworms
- Diatraea saccharalis, Sugarcane Borer
- Maruca spp., bean pod borers
Gallery
 Maruca virata |
See also
References
Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.). 1999. Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbuch der Zoologie. Eine Naturgeschichte der Stämme des Tierreiches / Handbook of Zoology. A Natural History of the phyla of the Animal Kingdom. Band / Volume IV Arthropoda: Insecta Teilband / Part 35: 491 pp. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.
