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Moths are often used to describe different pests whose larvae eat different supplies or different textiles. In Germany, however, there is a long list of different moth species that inhabit different habitats.
In a nutshell
- The list of native moth species is getting longer and longer because more and more introduced species are establishing themselves
- Moth species can be found among a wide variety of butterfly families, and moth moths are also included
- Compared to other butterflies, moths are very small and usually delicately built
- Different types of moths are often referred to as “food moths”, such as the dried fruit moth or the flour borer
- not all moth species are pests
Moth species from B to E
Batia lunaris
Source: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark, Batia lunaris (19229866969), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
- Size: 7 to 10mm
- Appearance: Fore wings golden yellow, black band in the middle, dark body
- Occurrence: Forests and forest edges with dense shrubbery, parks, gardens
- Flight times: June to July
- Caterpillar food: lichen
Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis)
- Size: 40 to 46mm
- Appearance: Wings glossy white with a light brown edge
- Occurrence: Settlement areas with box trees
- Flight times: April to September
- Caterpillar food: boxwood
The box tree moth is not a species of moth that is native. The insect was introduced and has quickly catapulted itself to the top of the list of insect pests, as it greatly reduces boxwood populations. So far, there are hardly any effective methods for sustainable control. A few bird species take the caterpillars as a food source. Bats also include the nocturnal moths in their diet.
Dried fruit moth (Plodia interpunctella)
- Size: 13 to 20mm
- Appearance: Wings dark brown with a metallic sheen, forewings with a lighter transverse band
- Occurrence: almost exclusively indoors
- Flight times: all year round
- Caterpillar food: dried fruits, seeds, grains, pasta, nuts
True clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella)
- Size: 9 to 16mm
- Appearance: Wings yellowish to brownish, shiny
- Occurrence: mainly in buildings, occasionally also populating bird nests and animal buildings
- Flight times: indoors all year round
- Caterpillar food: keratin as in hair, feathers, wool and dander
Oak pygmy moth (Dyseriocrania subpurpurella)
- Size: 6 to 9mm
- Appearance: Forewings brown with purple spots, shiny, hindwings brown-violet
- Occurrence: Forests with dense oak stands
- Flight times: April to May
- Caterpillar food: oak leaves, recognizable by mining tunnels
Emmelina monodactyla
- Size: 18 to 26mm
- Appearance: deeply T-shaped forked wings, wings beige to reddish brown, occasionally with black spots
- Occurrence: in various biotopes, predominantly with an open structure
- Flight times: March to September
- Caterpillar food: different types of morning glory
Notice: Among the moth species that are native, Emmelina monodactyla is easily recognized by its unusual wing shape. The caterpillar food plants are not common in nature, which is why they occasionally switch to other species such as the goosefoot.
From G to K
Large wax moth (Galleria mellonella)
- Size: 30 to 40mm
- Appearance: Wings grey-brown, inconspicuous
- Occurrence: near beehives
- Flight times: May to October
- Caterpillar food: Pollen remains, beeswax
The greater wax moth is a pest in the hive area, especially when present in large numbers, and can also damage the bee colony.
Tip: In order to prevent intrusion, hygiene in the hive is important. This includes, for example, removing old wax residue and other waste products from the hive.
horned moth (Ceratophaga vastella)
Source: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, Horn Moths (Ceratophaga vastella) tunnels on old Kudu horns (17381473265), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Size: 19 to 20mm
- Appearance: golden yellow forehead, forewings dark grey-brown, hindwings whitish to grey
- Occurrence: indoors
- Flight times: all year round
- Caterpillar food: horns
The horned moth can be recognized by the small holes in the horns of hunting trophies, for example. Their damaging effect is so great that they can completely destroy horns within a few weeks.
Notice: The species is often not recognized correctly because the holes are similar to the damage caused by woodworms and it is often wrongly assumed that it is the house longhorn, which, however, feeds exclusively on wood.
Currant moth (Lampronia capitella)
Source: Michael Kurz, Lampronia capitella BE-MK-9913a, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT
- Size: 14 to 18mm
- Appearance: Orange tuft on head, forewings dark brown with three white wedges, hindwings grey-brown
- Occurrence: only where currants grow
- Flight times: April to June
- Caterpillar food: currants
The currant moth is one of the most common domestic pests on currants. An infestation can usually only be seen in spring, as the hibernated caterpillars bore into the shoots and eat them from the inside and also pupate in them. However, their development begins in the currants, which are still green.
tip: You can prevent the currant moth from spreading if you do not leave infested fruit lying around, but dispose of them and infested buds in the residual waste.
Cocoa moth (Ephestia elutella)
Source: Ben Sale from UK, (1473) Ephestia elutella (36782613912), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
- Size: 10 to 12mm
- Appearance: Forewings grey-brown with somewhat darker transverse bands, hindwings lighter
- Occurrence: indoors
- Flight times: all year round
- Caterpillar Diet: Grains, nuts, seeds, various dried vegetable matter
The cocoa moth was not originally native to Europe, but was introduced with cocoa beans. However, it is flexible when it comes to its diet and will also eat other foods, down to hay and straw.
Tip: Fighting the cocoa moth with parasitic wasps promises quick success.
Corn moth (Nemapogon granellus)
- Size: 5 to 6mm
- Appearance: Fore wings white-brown, forehead with white scales
- Occurrence: found in different biotopes, also in buildings
- Flight times: May to September, indoors all year round
- Caterpillar food: mold
Notice: The corn moth is easily recognizable by its white-brown forewings. It is not a pest in the true sense of the word, but rather indicates that grain was stored incorrectly and mold has therefore developed.
From L to M
Longhorn moth (Adela reaumurella)
- Size: 14 to 18mm
- Appearance: Forewings shiny, silvery, hindwings blue-violet, edges lighter and fringed, long light antennae
- Occurrence: Forest edges, hedges, light-colored deciduous forests
- Flight times: April to May
- Caterpillar food: withered and dry leaves of various deciduous trees
Corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)
Source: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark, Ostrinia nubilalis (42057820380), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
- Size: 20 to 25mm
- Appearance: Very variable wing coloration, cream-colored, brick-red, light to dark brown, two to three transverse lines
- Occurrence: fields
- Flight times: May to September
- Caterpillar food: mainly maize, now also found on other crops such as hops, potatoes or buckwheat
The corn borer is not native and was introduced to Europe with grain deliveries. In agriculture, it is one of the main pests in maize cultivation and cultivation, especially in larger areas, is usually no longer possible without the use of pesticides against the European corn borer.
Flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella)
Source: xpda, Ephestia kuehniella P1560151a, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Size: 10 to 14mm
- Appearance: Forewings tan-grey with small black spots, hindwings off-white with indented light brown border line
- Occurrence: in buildings
- Flight times: all year round
- Caterpillar food: flour, grain, grain products
Mealworm (Pyralis farinalis)
- Size: 18 to 30mm
- Appearance: Wings of varying shades of brown broken by transverse white lines
- Occurrence: everywhere where large quantities of grain are stored or processed
- Flight times: all year round
- Caterpillar diet: grain and grain products, occasionally grass seed
Monopis laevigella
Source: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark, Monopis laevigella (8924337305), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
- Size: 5 to 10mm
- Appearance: Golden scales on the head, black-brown forewings, light scales, grey-white hindwings
- Occurrence: found in different biotopes
- Flight times: March to September
- Caterpillar food: Food containing keratin, such as hair or feathers, can eat away at fur coats
From P to W
Fur moth (Tinea pellionella)
Source: Patrick Clement from West Midlands, England, 12.027 BF240 Case-bearing Clothes Moth, Tinea pellionella (2454551537), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
- Size: 5 to 6mm
- Appearance: yellowish forewings with three black dots
- Occurrence: indoors
- Flight times: all year round
- Caterpillar food: Furs, hair and feathers of mammals, animal preparations
Notice: The fur moth is declining in Europe, which is mainly due to the fact that, for animal welfare reasons, more and more real fur is being replaced by artificial fur.
Red-silvered longhorn moth (Cauchas rufimitrella)
- Size: 10 to 12mm
- Appearance: Wings bronze-colored, shiny metallic, occasionally with a slight green tinge, black antennae
- Occurrence: Meadows, forest edges
- Flight times: July to September
- Caterpillar food: mainly cruciferous plants such as meadowfoam, garlic mustard or goose cress
Notice: In Germany, this species of moth is on the decline because the caterpillars are finding fewer and fewer forage plants. Occasionally they switch to other biotopes if they find cruciferous plants there that bloom from July or until September.
Tinea trinotella
Source: Ilia Ustyantsev from Russia, Tinea trinotella (48002033733), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Size: 12 to 18mm
- Appearance: Forewings yellowish-grey to gray with three black spots, hindwings off-white, orange tuft on head
- Occurrence: found in different biotopes
- Flight times: April to August
- Caterpillar food: different organic substances, mainly dead material in the area of bird nests
Morning glory feather moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla)
- Size: 25 to 35mm
- Appearance: Wings feather-like, white
- Occurrence: large meadows
- Flight times: June to October
- Caterpillar Food: Morning glory
It is the largest native moth species, but rarely shows up as their habitats with suitable forage crops are dwindling due to intensive management.
Notice: The morning glory feather moth is colloquially referred to as the "feather ghost" because of its appearance.
frequently asked Questions
Are moths moths?Yes, many species belong to the group of moths, but some are also active during the day. Moth moths are often attracted to light, and this makes it easier to trap pests.
Are moths also active in winter?Yes, if the indoor temperature is high enough, storage pests in particular are active all year round.
Are there differences in female and male moths?As a rule, male and female moth species are the same. Occasionally there are minimal differences in body size or intensity of coloration.
How can I combat harmful moth species?Basically, they should no longer eat contaminated food, but dispose of it immediately. Also make sure that the moths can no longer find food sources. In Germany there are different means of combating it. The disadvantage of pheromone traps is that they can also attract moths that enter through open windows. Fighting the larvae with parasitic wasps is much better, as there are no subsequent generations.