Often in Chinese entomological nomenclature Thitarodes is still referred to as Hepialus, although the name was changed back in 1968.

Many larvae of this genus are the hosts to the parasitic fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis.

The fungus-insect complex known as caterpillar fungus, or by its original Tibetan name yartsa gunbu (or its Nepali pidgin version yarsa gumba).

It was first used in traditional Tibetan medicine, but is now highly prized by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine who know it as dong chong xiacao or short chong cao.

This article on a moth of the family Hepialidae is a stub.