List of Lepidoptera that feed on grasses

Updated on Nov 18, 2023

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Poaceae grasses are very important food plants for the caterpillars of a number of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), including:

Monophagous

Species which feed exclusively on Poaceae

Bedelliidae

Bedellia oplismeniella – only on Oplismenus compositus, Panicum torridum, and some others

Bedellia struthionella – only on Panicum torridum

Coleophoridae

Several Coleophora case-bearer species:

C. manitoba

C. pulchricornis – only on sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

C. vagans

Gelechiidae

Chionodes psiloptera – only on meadow-grasses (Poa) and some others

Hepialidae

Wiseana jocosa

Wiseana signata

Wiseana umbraculatus

Hesperiidae

Poanes aaroni (saffron skipper) – only on smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

Poanes hobomok (Hobomok skipper) – only on Panicum, meadow-grasses (Poa), and some others

Poanes yehl (Yehl skipper) – only on Arundinaria

Poanes zabulon (Zabulon skipper) – only on bentgrasses (Agrostis), cocksfoot (Dactylis), Elytrigia, lovegrasses (Eragrostis), Leymus, meadow-grasses (Poa), alkali grasses (Puccinellia), Tridens, and some others

Noctuidae

Apamea crenata (clouded-bordered brindle) – only on cocksfoot (Dactylis), hair grasses (Deschampsia), fescues (Festuca), Phalaris, and some others

Apamea monoglypha (dark arches) – only on hair grasses (Deschampsia), fescues (Festuca), and some others

Apamea remissa (dusky brocade) – only on small-reeds (Calamagrostis), hair grasses (Deschampsia), festuces (Festuca), Phalaris, ryes (Secale), and some others

Apamea sordens (rustic shoulder-knot) – only on oats (Avena), cocksfoot (Dactylis), festuces (Festuca), barleys (Hordeum), Leymus, Phalaris, catstails (Phleum), ryes (Secale), wheats (Triticum), teosintes and maize (Zea), wild rice (Zizania), and perhaps some others

Cerapteryx graminis (antler moth) – only on hair grasses (Deschampsia), festuces (Festuca), Nardus, and some others

Leucania comma (shoulder-striped wainscot) – only on hair grasses (Deschampsia), festuces (Festuca), and some others

Mythimna ferrago (the clay) – only on hair grasses (Deschampsia) and some others

Mythimna pallens (common wainscot) – only on hair grasses (Deschampsia), festuces (Festuca), Leymus, ryegrasses (Lolium), Phalaris, and some others

Oligia latruncula (tawny marbled minor) – only on small-reed (Calamagrostis), cocksfoot (Dactylis), and some others

Oligia strigilis (marbled minor) – only on crested-wheat grasses (Agropyron), cocksfoot (Dactylis), Elytrigia, meadow-grasses (Poa), and some others

Oligia versicolor (rufous minor)

Omphaloscelis lunosa (lunar underwing)

Thalpophila matura (straw underwing) – only on cocksfoot (Dactylis) and some others

Polyphagous

Species which feed on Poaceae and other plants

Arctiidae

Hypercompe eridanus – recorded on Panicum and possibly others

Coleophoridae

Several Coleophora case-bearer species:

C. lixella – recorded on quaking grasses (Briza), soft-grasses (Holcus), and possibly others

C. ornatipennella

C. tricolor

C. viridicuprella

Crambidae

Agriphila inquinatella – recorded on sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina), meadow-grasses (Poa), and others

Hepialidae

Hepialus humuli (ghost moth)

Korscheltellus lupulina (common swift)

Wiseana cervinata

Hesperiidae

Poanes viator (broad-winged skipper) – recorded on Panicum, common reeds (Phragmites), wild rice (Zizania), Zizaniopsis, and possibly others

Noctuidae

Eugnorisma glareosa (autumnal rustic) – recorded on meadow-grasses (Poa) and others

Euxoa nigricans (garden dart)

Mythimna impura (smoky wainscot) – recorded on foxtail grasses (Alopecurus), cocksfoot (Dactylis), hair grasses (Deschampsia), Leymus, common reeds (Phragmites), and others

Noctua pronuba (large yellow underwing)

Xestia sexstrigata (six-striped rustic)

Xestia xanthographa (square-spot rustic)

References

List of Lepidoptera that feed on grasses Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Monophagous

Polyphagous

References