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), festuces (Festuca), Phalaris, and some others
  • Apamea monoglypha (Dark Arches) – only on hair grasses (Deschampsia), festuces (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