Goldenrod stowaway
Common NameGoldenrod stowaway
Scientific NameEpiblema scudderiana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyOlethreutinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Primary Colorsyellowish-brown, brown, tan
HabitatMeadows, fields, open woodlands, roadsides where goldenrod is present
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Nova Scotia south to Florida and west to Manitoba and Texas
Host PlantsGoldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae bore into the stems of goldenrod plants, inducing the formation of a spindle-shaped gall where they feed and overwinter, pupating inside the gall in spring.
Identification TipsLook for its characteristic mottled yellowish-brown forewings with a pale costal patch; it is often found near goldenrod plants, and its larvae are responsible for the common spindle-shaped galls on goldenrod stems.
Description
This small, fuzzy moth has mottled yellowish-brown forewings with darker brown wavy lines and a distinctive pale, somewhat triangular patch near the costa, often resting with its wings tented.
