Snowy Urola Moth - Urola nivalis [1]
Crambid Snout Moths (Crambidae) / Crambine Snout Moths (Crambinae) / Hodges#5464
Live adult moths photographed at Castle Rock State Park, Oregon, Illinois. Size: 8mm
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Snowy Urola Moth
The snowy urola moth is well-known for the blinding-white, silky appearance of the wings. Indeed, its flight is easily followed in weedy fields and waste places ranging from eastern North America west to Illinois and Texas; southern Canada south to Florida and northern Mexico.

Host plants include many in the Olive family (Olaceae), mainly privet (Lingustrum spp.) [3].

Family Crambidae contains about 850 species in 9 subfamilies in North America, and about 11,630 described species in 15 subfamilies in the world [1]. Formerly classified as a subfamily of Pyralidae, the snout moths include many important agricultural pest species:

  • Grape leaf-folder: Larvae are leaf-tiers and pests in Napa and Sonoma vinyards in California.
  • Sod Webworm:  Larvae of  N. American native moths in the genus Crambus are serious pests of lawns and especially golf courses.
  • Sugar Cane Borer:  Crop pest in sugar cane, sorghum, rice, and other grasses
  • Southwestern corn borer: Serious pest in numerous crops; corn, sorghum, millet, sugar cane and other field crops. [2]
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Snowy Urola Moth
This is one lovely moth, one of the small gems of nature we rarely get to see up close.

Snowy Urola Moth

References
  1. Bugguide.net, "Family Crambidae - Crambid Snout Moths"
  2. Wikipedia, "Sugarcane Borer" "Crambus" "Crambidae"
  3. Texas A&M University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, "Urola nivalis"

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