Pyrausta
{{For|the grass moth genus|Pyrausta (moth)}}
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
References
- The Natural History of Pliny the Elder, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+11.42 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).
Category:Dragons in Greek mythology