Pyralidae

Pyralidae
Sceliodes cordalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Pyraloidea
(unranked):	Obtectomera
Family:	Pyralidae Latreille, 1802
Type species
Pyralis farinalis Linnaeus, 1758
Subfamilies
Acentropinae Chrysauginae Epipaschiinae Galleriinae Phycitinae Pyralinae
Diversity
? genera c.6,150 species

The Pyralidae or snout moths are a family of Lepidoptera.

In many classifications, the Crambidae or grass moths have been treated as a sub-division of the Pyralidae, the combination being one of the largest families in the Lepidoptera. The latest review by Munroe & Solis, in Kristensen (1999) retains the Crambidae as a full family.

Harmful Pyralids

• Sunflower Moth, Homoeosoma nebulella
• Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella - cosmopolitan pests, dining on stored grains, spices, and similar dry vegetable products
• Meal Moth, Pyralis farinalis - cosmopolitan, larvae infest store grain
• Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella - Parasite of bee hives
• Lesser Wax Moth, Achroia grisella - Parasite of bee hives

Note that the European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) is located in the Crambidae, which as noted above, is currently regarded as a separate family.

Useful Pyralids

• Alligator Weed Stem Borer, Arcola malloi - a biological pest control agent used against the alligator weed
• Water Veneer, Acentria ephemerella - a biocontrol agent used against Eurasian watermilfoil