Insect
Arcane Grass Tubeworm Moth
Acrolophus arcanellaAlso known as Arcane Tubeworm Moth, Grass Tubeworm Moth
Arcane grass tubeworm moths are mottled brown nocturnal insects celebrated for the remarkable architecture created by their larvae beneath turf. The caterpillars spin subterranean silken tubes that extend deep into the soil, sheltering them as they feed upward on grass roots and decaying organic litter. Adult males possess unusually elongated, recurved labial palpi that curve back over the head like a bristly hood, a signature feature among grass tubeworm moths.
NocturnalSubterranean LarvaMottled
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrass roots, Decaying plant matter, Turf debris
Predators
- Big brown bat
- Eastern screech-owl
- Wolf spider
ThreatsLawn pesticide use, intensive turf management, and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsLawns, meadows, pastures, and open grasslands
Life span1 year (dominated by the larval stage)
Classification
- FamilyTineidae
- SpeciesAcrolophus arcanella
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Light Observation: Check porch lights or white sheets illuminated with UV lamps on warm summer nights.
- Gentle Inspection: Adults frequently rest motionless on walls or grass blades during daylight hours.
Host Plant Rasbak / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés · cc-by-sa
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