Pyrausta Explained

Pyrausta or pyrallis (πυραλλίς) (also called in Greek pyrigonos) is a mythological insect from Cyprus. It is a four-legged insect with filmy wings. It lived in the fire like a salamander and died if it went away from the fire.Janssens identifies it with the Melanophila acuminata.

See also

• Salamanders in folklore
• Dragons in Greek mythology

References

• The Natural History of Pliny the Elder, Book 11, Chapter 42 ; the Latin text reads pyral(l)is and either pyrausta or pyrotocon.
• Aelian, On the nature of animals 2, 2 : pyrigonos.
• Em. Janssens, "Le « pyrotocon » de Pline l'Ancien", Latomus, 9, fasc. 3 (juillet-septembre 1950), pp. 283-286 (Société d'Études Latines de Bruxelles).