(Agriphila vulgivagellus)
Hodges # | 5403 |
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Conservation Status | IUCN Red List |
not listed |
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NatureServe |
NNR - Unranked SNR - Unranked |
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Minnesota |
not listed |
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Occurrence | Common in Minnesota |
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Flight/Season | One generation per year: August to October |
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Habitat | Grasslands, fields, and gardens |
Photo by Alfredo Colon | |||||
Size | Total Length: 11⁄16″ (18 mm) Wingspan: ¾″ to 19⁄16″ (20 to 39 mm) |
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Identification | Vagabond crambus is a medium-sized moth but one of the largest grass veneers. It occurs across the United States and southern Canada. It is common in Minnesota. Adults are found in grasslands, fields, and gardens. Larvae feed in the spring on fast-growing grasses and grains, including wheat and rye. They are not considered serious pests. Adults are 11⁄16″ (18 mm) in length and have a wingspan of ¾″ to 19⁄16″ (20 to 39 mm). The forewings are pale tan. They are sparsely to densely peppered with dark scales between the veins creating streaky patterns. There are no dark lines crossing the wing. The outer margin has seven black dots, one at the end of each vein. The fringe is variable. It may be gray or almost black, and often has some white. The apparent color may be affected by the angle of the light. The antennae are slender and thread-like. The finger-like sensory organs (palps) attached to the mouth are very long and densely hairy. They are projected forward, appearing like a fuzzy snout. The caterpillar ¾″ to 1″ long. It is green to brown with dark spots, coarse hairs, and a brown head. |
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Similar Species |
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Larval Food | Grasses and grains, including wheat and rye |
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Adult Food |
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Life Cycle | Larvae overwinter |
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Behavior | Adults rest with their wings held tight to the body, forming a tubular shape. They are active at night and will come to light. |
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Distribution | ![]() |
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Comments |
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Taxonomy | Order: |
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) |
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Suborder: |
Glossata |
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Infraorder: |
Neolepidoptera |
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Parvorder: |
Heteroneura |
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No Rank: |
Ditrysia |
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No Rank: |
Obtectomera |
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Superfamily: |
Pyraloidea (pyralid and crambid snout moths) |
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Family: |
Crambidae (crambid snout moths) |
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Subfamily: |
Crambinae (crambine snout moths) |
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Tribe: |
Crambini (grass-veneers) |
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Genus: |
Agriphila |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
vagabond crambus vagabond sod webworm (larva) vagabond sod webworm moth (adult) |
Glossary
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.
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Alfredo Colon | |||
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos | |||
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Other Videos | |||
Vagabon Crambus Moth (Crambidae: Agriphila vulgivagellus?) Lateral View Carl Barrentine |
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About
Sep 9, 2011 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (07 September 2011). |
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Created: 12/15/2020
Last Updated: