Praeacedes is a monotypic moth genus in the family Tineidae first described by Hans Georg Amsel in 1954. Its only species, Praeacedes atomosella, was first described by Francis Walker in 1863. It has a wide range and has been recorded from Europe (the Canary Islands, Cyprus and Malta[1]), Australia, Hawaii,[2] India, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Easter Island, Mauritius, Madagascar, Réunion,[3] South America and North America. The species has commonly been misidentified in various parts of the world.
| Praeacedes | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tineidae |
| Subfamily: | Tineinae |
| Genus: | Praeacedes Amsel, 1954 |
| Species: | P. atomosella |
| Binomial name | |
| Praeacedes atomosella (Walker, 1863) | |
| Synonyms | |
Genus:
Species:
| |
The larvae appear to feed on insect detritus and potentially also on mites,[3] and earlier records of them feeding on pigeon dung[2] might be erroneous.[3] The larvae create brown larval cases. Pupation takes place within this case which serves as its cocoon. When the moth issues the pupa is extruded.