scoparia

Scoparia is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Scopariinae. The genus comprises a large number of species with a near-global distribution, especially in temperate regions. Adults are small moths with slender forewings that are typically mottled gray or brown and marked with pale lines or speckling, providing camouflage against bark and lichens. The wingspan and patterning vary among species.

Larvae of Scoparia feed on a range of substrates, including detritus, mosses, and lichens growing on bark or decaying vegetation. The life cycle is generally univoltine to multivoltine depending on climate and species, and larvae often inhabit sheltered microhabitats such as leaf litter or mossy substrates.

Taxonomy and phylogeny: Scoparia belongs to Crambidae, within the subfamily Scopariinae. The genus has a large number of described species; taxonomic revisions are ongoing as molecular data inform relationships within Scopariinae and Crambidae. Distribution: Species have been recorded in Europe, Asia, North America, and other regions, with greatest diversity in temperate habitats.

Etymology: The name Scoparia derives from Latin scoparius, meaning "of the broom," a classical descriptor used in taxonomy.

See also: List of Scoparia species; Crambidae.