Some CRAMBIDAE caterpillar pictures

CRAMBIDAE of Australia Webworms and Shoot Borers PYRALOIDEA Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) & Stella Crossley

Some CRAMBIDAE moth pictures

CRAMBINAE		CYBALOMIINAE		EVERGESTINAE		GLAPHYRIINAE		MIDILINAE
MUSOTIMINAE		NOORDINAE		NYMPHULINAE		ODONTIINAE		PYRAUSTINAE

SCHOENOBIINAE

SCOPARIINAE

SPILOMELINAE

WURTHIINAE

The CRAMBIDAE were originally included in the family PYRALIDAE, and were first separated out as a distinct group by Munroe in 1972 based on the presence or absence of an organ called the praecinctorium, which when present is a bilobed flimsy structure lying on the mid-line between medially fused tympanic bullae. When absent, the tympanic bullae are quite clearly separated. The former are the Crambiformes, the latter the Pyraliformes. Later, the separate groups were elevated to family status, particularly by Hennig.

The species are listed here in their subfamilies.

The Caterpillars of CRAMBIDAE are very varied in their habits. They are basically a group of concealed feeders, but they also include parasites and aquatic forms.

A key to the caterpillars of pest species in this family has been published.

Aquatic caterpillars, probably from the subfamily NYMPHULINAE
(Photos: from The Waterbug Book, courtesy of Edward Tsyrlin and John Gooderham, Butterfly Adventures, Melbourne)

Link to
Frequently Asked Questions about Caterpillars

Australian butterflies

Australian caterpillars

Australian moths

(updated 8 September 2012)