Crambus pratella is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is found in Europe and Asia Minor.

Crambus pratella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Crambus
Species:
C. pratella
Binomial name
Crambus pratella
Synonyms
  • Phalaena (Tinea) pratella Linnaeus, 1758
  • Argyroteuchia saltalis Hübner, 1825
  • Crambus scoticus Westwood in Humphreys & Westwood, 1841
  • Crambus scotius Ganev, 1996
  • Crambus gelatellus Réal, 1988
  • Crambus pratellus ab. egregiellus Rebel, 1915
  • Crambus pratellus ab. obscurellus Mann, 1871
  • Crambus pratellus var. marpurgensis Strand, 1920
  • Argyroteuchia pratalis Hübner, 1825
  • Palparia pratea Haworth, 1811
  • Crambus pratorum Fabricius, 1798
  • Tinea dumetella Hübner, 1813
  • Crambus dumetellus ab. depunctellus Strand, 1902
  • Crambus dumetellus var. boreellus Caradja, 1910
  • Crambus dumetellus var. plumbatellus Osthelder, 1939
Fig. 3 larva after final moult

The wingspan is 22–25 mm. Forewings with apex somewhat produced; brown, sometimes ochreous-mixed, in male with grey, in female with whitish blackish-edged interneural streaks; a subcostal white streak on basal half; a white median streak, upper edge straight, lower edge projecting in middle, cut by sharply angulated dark brown median line; second line angulated, white, edged with dark brown, preceded by white costal mark; a white terminal streak, with several black dots; cilia metallic. Hindwings are rather dark grey [applies partly to Crambus pascuella but this is smaller and has a narrower longitudinal streak]. The larva is greenish-grey or brownish-grey; dots darker; head brown, darker-marked.[1]

The moth flies from May to August depending on the location.

The larvae feed on various grasses, especially Deschampsia species.

References

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  1. ^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
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