Bug FAQBasswood Leafroller Moth
Pantographa limata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Basswood Leafroller
Source: Wikipedia
Its wings measure roughly 38 mm across. You can find it across many parts of North America, from the Gulf Coast up through the northeastern United States and into eastern Canada. The caterpillars roll and eat the leaves of basswood, oak and rock elm trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan is about 38 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on Tilia (basswood) species and roll the leaves as they eat them. Adults also consume leaves of basswood, oak and rock elm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to North America, including the same U.S. states and Quebec listed for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 38 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Alabama.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Where does this moth live?
It is found throughout many eastern U.S. states and in Quebec, Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on basswood (Tilia) leaves and roll them while feeding.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantographa_limata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.