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.
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.
. Elwood Zimmerman . 1978 . Insects of Hawaii . 9 Microlepidoptera . The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. 10125/7338 .