Pediasia trisecta

Pediasia trisecta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Pediasia
Species:	P. trisecta
Binomial name
Pediasia trisecta (Walker, 1856)[1]
Synonyms
Carvanca trisecta Walker, 1856 Crambus biliturellus Zeller, 1874 Crambus exsiccatus Zeller, 1863 Crambus interminellus Walker, 1863 Crambus fuscisquamellus Zeller, 1863

Pediasia trisecta, the large sod webworm or greater sod webworm, is a moth of the Crambidae family. It is found in the United States and southern Canada.^[2]

The wingspan is 23–33 mm. Adults are on wing from May to October. Adults feed solely on dew.

The larvae feed on various Poaceae species. They overwinter as young larvae in silk-lined tubes under the soil. In early spring, they feed on the upper root systems, stems and blades of their host plant from under protective silken webs. Pupation takes place in May in underground silken cocoons. These cocoons incorporate bits of plants and soil.

References

1. "World Pyraloidea Database". Globiz.pyraloidea.org. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
2. Contributed by Robin McLeod on 7 June 2006 - 1:54am (2006-06-07). "Bug Guide". Bug Guide. Retrieved 2011-10-10.