elegant grass-veneer

not listed

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Elegant grass-veneer is small crambid snout moth. It occurs in the United States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains, and in Mexico. It is the most common Microcrambus moth in the United States, and is common in Minnesota. Adults are found from June to August in fields and grassy areas. Larvae feed on grasses.

Adults are narrow-bodied. They are 5⁄16″ to ⅜″ (8 to 10 mm) in length and have a wingspan of ½″ to ⅝″ (12 to 15 mm).

The forewings are white or silvery white with brown and dark brown markings. They are moderately to densely peppered and shaded with brown and dark brown specks. On each wing, there is a conspicuous, dark brown, triangular patch near the wing base, and a broad, curved line in the middle. Dense, dark brown specks in the postmedial area provide a dark shading below the curved line. When the wings are closed these marks form a frowning face that has been compared to a Halloween mask. There is a brown band in the postmedial area and a thin, straight, brown line in the subterminal area (subterminal or ST line). The band is separated from the ST line by a thin white border. There are seven short, blackish-brown dashes, one on each vein, between the ST line and the fringe. The fringe is brown. The hindwing is brownish-gray and has a wide fringe.

The antennae are slender and thread-like. There are two large compound eyes on the side of the head and a single, well-developed, simple eye (ocellus) near the top edge of each compound eye. The finger-like sensory organs (palps) attached to the mouth are moderately long and densely hairy. They are projected forward, appearing like a fuzzy snout.

Total length: 5⁄16″ to ⅜″ (8 to 10 mm)

Wingspan: ½″ to ⅝″ (12 to 15 mm)

Fields and grassy areas

One generation per year. June to August

Adults rest with their wings held tight to the body, forming a tubular shape. They are active at night (diurnal) and at dawn and dusk (crepuscular), and will come to lights.

Grasses

Sources

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

Microcrambus elegans elegant grass veneer

Microcrambus elegans, elegant grass veneer, found on Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI.

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Microcrambus elegans, elegant grass veneer, found on Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI.

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Microcrambus elegans, elegant grass veneer, found on Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI.

Location: Woodbury, MN