Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 23, 2026

Pyrausta lethalis

Pyrausta lethalis, the lethal pyrausta moth, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from California to southern Nevada, southern Arizona and Texas.

Last revised
Jun 23, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
219 w
Citations
5
Source
Pyrausta lethalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Pyrausta
Species:
P. lethalis
Binomial name
Pyrausta lethalis
(Grote, 1881)
Synonyms
  • Botis lethalis Grote, 1881

Pyrausta lethalis, the lethal pyrausta moth, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881.1 It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from California (the Mojave Desert, Los Angeles) to southern Nevada, southern Arizona and Texas (the Big Bend region).2

The wingspan is about 16 mm.3 The forewings are purplish brown with a dark brown exterior line. The subterminal area is pale brown, shaded with whitish. The hindwings are pale fuscous with a black terminal line.4 Adults have been recorded on wing from March to October.5

References

References

  1. Nuss, M.; et al. (2003–2017). "GlobIZ search". Global Information System on Pyraloidea. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  2. Savela, Markku. "Pyrausta lethalis (Grote, 1881)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  3. "Species Pyrausta lethalis - Lethal Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5027". BugGuide. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  4. The Canadian Entomologist 13 (2): 33 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. "801506.00 – 5027 – Pyrausta lethalis – Lethal Pyrausta Moth – (Grote, 1881)". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved February 25, 2018.