Triangle-marked Twirler Moth
Common NameTriangle-marked Twirler Moth
Scientific NameGnorimoschema triangulella
FamilyGelechiidae
SubfamilyGelechiinae
Wingspan (mm)10.5
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, white, black
HabitatMeadows, fields, open woodlands, disturbed areas where host plants grow
Geographic RangeEastern and Central North America
Host Plantsgoldenrod, aster
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are internal feeders, typically forming galls or boring into the stems of host plants, primarily in the Asteraceae family. Pupation likely occurs within the plant or in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, mottled grey-brown forewings with white speckling, and the characteristic dark, somewhat triangular spots, often with yellowish margins. Definitive identification often requires examination of genitalia due to similarity with other *Gnorimoschema* species.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled grey and brown forewings, heavily speckled with white scales, and marked with several small, dark, somewhat triangular spots, often edged with yellowish scales.
