Grease moth

''Aglossa cuprina'', the grease moth, is a snout moth, family Pyralidae, described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1872. The grease moth is closely related to the genus '' Pyralis'', and as a result, is usually associated with the meal moth, ''Pyralis farinalis''.

''Aglossa cuprina'' ingests grease produced by the bacteria that feed on decaying matter.

Taxonomy

''A. cuprina'' was named by German entomologist Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1872. The specific epithet, ''A. pinguinalis'', its other binomial name, is derived from the Latin, ''pinguinalis'' (greasy).

Description

The egg of ''A. cuprina'' is an off white rounded oval. During the larval stage, ''A. cuprina'' has a brownish head and greyish body. The ''A. cuprina'' larvae also have black mandibles and a black peritreme (part of the integument of an insect which surrounds the spiracles). They can be distinguished from '' A. caprealis'' larvae by setal differences. The pupae are reddish brown with six curved, hooked setae.

The moth has a wingspan that averages about an inch and a half (38 mm), and exhibits an overall dark, greyish-brown colour. While the forewings are brownish grey with pale yellowish markings (much like those of a tabby cat, hence the lesser-used common name), the top of the head and neck are simply pale yellow. ''A. cuprina'' is also known for its filiform (thread-like) antennae.

Distribution

''A. cuprina'' has been found in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and South America. ''A. cuprina'' is distributed throughout eastern North America and sightings have been recorded in California, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. The moth stage is generally found in early summer between the months of May and August.

They tend to inhabit areas around or in human habitation and buildings. When found in homes, they are generally found in the kitchen and more specifically in the pantry where their choice food source is stored. They are also commonly found in areas where dried grain products are stored, for example, warehouses and areas of grain elevators that remain undisturbed.

Behaviour

''Aglossa cuprina'' has similar feeding habits to those of the grains moths. The larval stages feed primarily on dried grain based products including corn meal, whole wheat flour, graham flour, granola, and dried oats. The adults feed on butter, suet and grease, and have even been found in excrement. They have been known to feed on dried remains of other insects as well. The adults fly at dusk between June and July. They hide in dark corners during the day and can be found in stables, outhouses, barns, warehouses, and cellars. They are also attracted to light and sugar.

Forensic importance

''A. cuprina'' is often involved in stored product entomology. Stored product entomologists often advise producers on ways to reduce the chances of insect infestation and thus remain under food defect action levels. ''A. cuprina'' is a common aspect of stored product entomology due to its caterpillars' feeding habits. Grease moth larvae infest dried grain products and as it feeds it produces a silken substance that intertwines with the surrounding product. With substantial infestations, the larvae will spread throughout the product and with them spread their silk rendering the product unsellable. Most infestations occur in products that are stored for long periods of time in storage facilities.

In addition to stored product entomology, recently evidence suggests that ''A. cuprina'' may soon play a role in forensic entomology. ''A. cuprina'' was recently found feeding on the greasy remains of a deceased individual. The use of ''A. cuprina'' as an insect of significant forensic importance is still being researched.

Research

Research on the species' life cycle has yet to be completed, but it has been shown to have a similar life cycle to that of ''Aglossa caprealis''. ''A. caprealis'' lays an average of 60-300 eggs during a single reproductive cycle. The eggs are commonly laid on overhanging supports. The time it takes for the eggs to hatch is temperature dependent and take between 2–14 days to hatch.

Once the eggs have hatched, the larval stage will last 2–41 weeks before pupating. The larval stage prefers to live in dark secluded environments, and creates flexible tubular galleries. The galleries are supported by silken fibres produced by the larvae.

Prior to pupation, the larvae leave their galleries and disperse to a suitable location. They entangle themselves with a loose, tough silken cover that they interweave with nearby material. The nearby materials provide structure to the silken covering and camouflage the moth while it undergoes metamorphosis. The duration spent in each stage of development is temperature dependent. The life cycle of ''A. cuprina'' has been recorded to range from approximately twelve months to over two years depending on weather and temperature conditions. The imago, adult insect, stage emerges in early summer."1421 Large Tabby ''Aglossa pinguinalis''". ''UKMoths'': Your guide to the moths of great Britain and Ireland. 2009. Ian Kimber. 18 March 2009.

References

Further reading

*Ackermann A. “Occurrence of ''Aglossa pinguinalis'' inchworms in the intestine.” Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift. 95–96. Vol. 35. 1909. ISI Web of Knowledge. Medical Sciences Library, College Station, TX. 17 Mar. 2009.
*Buckler, William, Stainton, Henry Tibbats, and George T. Porritt
The Larvae of the British butterflies and moths.
Vol. 9. London: Ray Society, 1901. 28 Jan. 2007. The Library of Congress, Ann Arbor, MI. Google books. Pg. 26–36. 16 Mar. 2009.
*Butler, Edward Albert
Our Household Insect: an account of the insect-pests found in dwelling-houses.
New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1893. 29 Jan. 2008. Harvard University Library, Cambridge, MA. Google books. 10 Mar. 2009.
*Carter, James David
Pest Lepidoptera of Europe: With Special Reference to the British Isles.
Springer, 1984. Google books. Pg. 204. 16 Mar. 2009.
*Entomological Society of Washington, Smithsonian Institution Dept. of Entomology
Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington.
Vol. 10. Washington D.C.: The Entomological Society of Washington, 1909. 25 Jan. 2008. Google books. Pg. 97-217. 10 Mar. 2009.
*Fraval, Alain, and Claire Villemant

Le Courrier De L’Environment De L’Inra. 13 Mar. 2009.
*Humphreys, Henry Noel, and Obadiah Westwood
British moths and their transformations.
Vol. 2. London: 1845. 11 Sept. 2006. Google books. Pg. 90. 17 Mar 2009.
*Pinero, FS. “Coprophagy in Lepidoptera: observational and experimental evidence in the pyralid moth ''Aglossa pinguinalis''.” Journal of Zoology. Vol. 244. Mar. 1998. Pg. 357. ISI Web of Knowledge. Medical Science Library, College Station, TX. 19 March 2009.
*Sheppard, A.C. "Palaerctic Lepidoptera in the Province of Quebec." Ann Entomol Soc Quebec (Sep. 1974): 119–120. Agricola. EBSCO. Medical Science Library, College Station, TX. 17 Mar. 2009.
*Solis & Shaffer. (1999)
Contribution Towards the Study of the Pyralinae (Pyralidae): Historical Review, Morphology, and nomenclature.
''Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society.. 53.'' (1), 1-10.
*Perez-Lopez, F.J. “The coprophagous specialization in the larvae of ''Aglossa pinguinalis'' (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).” SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologica HILAP Rev. Lepidopterol. 41–48. Vol. 30. 2002. Entomology Abstracts. ProQuest. Medical Sciences Library, College Station, TX. 17 Mar. 2009.
*Work, Timothy and Deborah McCullough. "Lepidopteran Communities in Two Forest Ecosystem During the First Gypsy Moth Outbreaks in Northern Michigan ." Environmental Entomology 29.5Oct 2000 884–900. 10 Mar 2009.

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1821197

Pyralini
Pyralidae of South America
Cosmopolitan moths
Moths described in 1872
Taxa named by Philipp Christoph Zeller