| Aglossa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult grease moth (A. pinguinalis) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pyralidae |
| Tribe: | Pyralini |
| Genus: | Aglossa Latreille, 1796 |
| Species | |
|
Numerous, see text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Aglossa is a genus of small moths belonging to the family Pyralidae. It was described by Pierre André Latreille in 1796. They are found mainly in western Eurasia, though some species have been introduced elsewhere.[1]
This genus is remarkable for the caterpillars, which in some species are able to feed on a wide range of materials that are not usually eaten by Lepidoptera larvae, such as dead insects, manure and straw. The caterpillars of other Aglossa (e.g. A. signicostalis) are myrmecophilous.[2]
Adults of the grease moth (A. cuprina) sometimes eat fats such as suet.