List of Lepidoptera that feed on grasses

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)

External links

• Caterpillar Hostplants Database