''Praeacedes'' is a monotypic moth genus in the family Tineidae first described by Hans Georg Amsel in 1954. Its only species, ''Praeacedes atomosella'', was first described by Francis Walker in 1863. It has a wide range and has been recorded from Europe (the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

, Cyprus and MaltaFauna Europaea
/ref>),

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, Hawaii, India, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Easter Island, Mauritius, Madagascar,

Réunion Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...

, South America and North America. The species has commonly been misidentified in various parts of the world. The larvae appear to feed on insect

detritus In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts commun ...

and potentially also on mites, and earlier records of them feeding on pigeon dung might be erroneous. The larvae create brown larval cases. Pupation takes place within this case which serves as its cocoon. When the moth issues the pupa is extruded.

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Fauna Europaea
Tineinae Cosmopolitan moths Fauna of the Gambia Monotypic moth genera Taxa named by Hans Georg Amsel {{Tineidae-stub