The Pyraloidea: The Snout and Grass Moths

This chapter describes recent work on the Pyraloidea, one of the most speciose of moth superfamilies. The chapter presents the taxonomic history of the superfamily and its current morphological definition. An overview of recent molecular and morphological phylogenies precedes an account of the Australian fauna. Summaries of the species richness, distributions and food plant relationships of the Pyralidae and Crambidae are tabulated and discussed. Particular attention is paid to the crambid subfamilies Spilomelinae and Pyraustinae, the largest clade within the family Crambidae. Finally, species of economic importance are discussed: first the biocontrol agents and then pest species.