Vagabond Crambus Moth - Agriphila vulgivagella
Crambid Snout Moths - Hodges #s 4703 - 5509 (Crambidae) / Crambine Snout Moths (Crambinae)
Live adult moths photographed at Churchill Woods, Glen Ellyn Illinois.
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Vagabond Crambus Moth, head detail

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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Vagabond Crambus Moth - Agriphila vulgivagella

Closeup detail of those wonderful palpi, green eyes and antennae laid flat against the wings. Legs are held in characteristic moth pose: hidden. There were lots of these moths posing on the grass in a large mown lawn one day in late September. They were obviously relying heavily on their camouflage; they never took flight no matter what I did. I wonder what they are mimicking, if anything.

See also:

Eastern Grass-veneer Moth, Crambus laqueatellus
Eastern Grass-veneer Moth, Crambus laqueatellus

References
  1. Bugguide.net, "Family Crambidae - Crambid Snout Moths"
  2. Wikipedia, "Sugarcane Borer" "Crambus" "Crambidae"

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