Pediasia aridella

Pediasia aridella is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1788 and is found in Europe. There are three recognised subspecies.

Figs. 8 larva after final moult

Pediasia aridella
Pediasia aridella nominate Thames Estuary, England
Subspecies Peridasia aridella caradjella
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Pediasia
Species:	P. aridella
Binomial name
Pediasia aridella (Thunberg, 1788)
Synonyms
Tinea aridella Thunberg, 1794 Crambus aridella caradjaellus Rebel, 1907 Crambus aridella edmontellus McDunnough, 1923 Crambus monotonus Filipjev, 1927 Crambus salinellus nepos Rothschild, 1911 Pediasia kasyi Ganev, 1983 Pseudopediasia mikkolai Ganev, 1987 Crambus salinellus Tutt, 1887 Crambus salinellus ludovicellus Marion, 1952 Pediasia aridella ludovicellus (Marion, 1952) Pediasia kenderesiensis Fazekas, 1987

The wingspan is 20–26 mm. The forewings are ochreous, veins variably pale or whitish, interneural spaces sometimes blackish-sprinkled; a blackish streak beneath median vein from base to middle; lines obscurely darker, on lower half blackish mixed, median very strongly curved, very oblique dorsally, second curved, slightly indented below middle; three or four black dots on lower half of termen; cilia ochreous, mixed with white. Hindwings are whitish-grey or very pale grey. The larva is pale ochreous-grey; dorsal line darker; spots light brownish; head light or dark brown, darker-marked; plate of 2 sometimes dark brown.[1]

The moth flies from June to September depending on the location.

The larvae feed on various grasses.