changeable grass-veneer

(Fissicrambus mutabilis)

changeable grass-veneer
Photo by Alfredo Colon
  Hodges #

5435

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
 
Description
 
 

Changeable grass-veneer is a small, narrow, crambid snout moth. It occurs in the United States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains and in Mexico. There are also scattered records of it in the southwest. It is common in the east, not common in Minnesota. Adults are active from June through August in grasslands, grassy woodlands, old fields, pastures, and lawns in residential neighborhoods. Larvae feed on a wide variety of grasses.

Adults are ½ (12 mm) in length and have a wingspan of about (17 mm).

The forewings are gray or grayish-brown to brownish-orange or brownish-yellow. A broad, diffuse, grayish streak extends from the base for most of the length of the wing, terminating in the postmedial area. A dark yellowish-brown streak extends from the base along the leading edge (costal margin) toward the rear, usually fading out near the halfway point. The median and subterminal lines are jagged. A dark spot at the end of the median vein is part of the median line. The terminal line is represented by a row of black dots. There is a highly variable amount of dark brown to black speckling, often appearing as a long dark streak near the middle of the wing and shorter streaks toward the end.

The hindwings are gray or pale brownish-gray.

The antennae are long and thread-like. They are held straight back over the body when at rest. The finger-like sensory organs (palps) attached to the mouth are long and densely hairy. They are projected forward, appearing like a fuzzy snout.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: ½ (12 mm)

Wingspan: about (17 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Grasslands, grassy woodlands, old fields, pastures, and lawns.

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Two generations per year: June through August

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

Adults rest with their head down, the rear of their body and their wings elevated – the headstand position. They will come to lights at night.

Larvae feed at night.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

 

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

A wide variety of grasses

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 21, 24, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82.

 
  12/11/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Not common in Minnesota

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Pyraloidea (pyralid and crambid snout moths)  
 

Family

Crambidae (crambid snout moths)  
 

Subfamily

Crambinae (grass-veneers and allies)  
 

Tribe

Crambini (grass-veneers)  
 

Genus

Fissicrambus  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Crambus mutabilis

Crambus fuscicostellus

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

changeable grass-veneer (adult)

changeable grass-veneer moth

striped sod webworm (larva)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Costal margin

The leading edge of the forewing of insects.

 

Palp

Short for pedipalp. A segmented, finger-like process of an arthropod; one is attached to each maxilla and two are attached to the labium. They function as sense organs in spiders and insects, and as weapons in scorpions. Plural: palpi or palps.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Ibrahim Abdelbaky

 
    changeable grass-veneer   changeable grass-veneer  
           
    changeable grass-veneer      
 

Alfredo Colon

 
    changeable grass-veneer   changeable grass-veneer  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Changeable Grass-veneer - Hodges#5435 (Fissicrambus mutabilis)
Andree Reno Sanborn
  Changeable Grass-veneer - Hodges#5435 (Fissicrambus mutabilis)  

 

slideshow

       
 
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Ibrahim Abdelbaky

 
  moth I took a vid of when I was in Philadelphia
Dec 6, 2022
 
   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  A Changeable Grass Veneer (Fissicrambus mutabilis)
Kahanu Ermeyas-Tulu
 
   
 
About

Oct 21, 2022

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 
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  Alfredo Colon
8/5/2022

Location: Albany, NY

changeable grass-veneer

 
  Ibrahim Abdelbaky
6/9/2016

Location: Philadelphia, PA

changeable grass-veneer

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 12/11/2022

Last Updated:

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