Family Crambidae (Crambid snout moths)

Crambidae has been treated as a subfamily of the Pyralidae, although in this site, we will treat Crambidae as a family on its own. The family currently comprises 15 subfamilies with 10,347 species spread over 1,000 genera. They are variable in appearance, and with the subfamily Crambinae they assume closely folded postures on grass stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies are brightly coloured and patterned and rest in wings spread.

Crambids tend to affect crops and gardens due to their abundance in human habitats. Beneficial crambids include the water hyacinth moth (Niphograpta albiguttalis), used to control its host (Eichhornia crassipes).

Crambid larvae are typically stem borers of the grass family; Gramineae. As this family contains many important crops, some Crambidae species are pests.