Bug FAQBirch Epinotia Moth
Epinotia trigonella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
Also called: White-blotch Bell
The birch epinotia moth has a wingspan of about 16 to 21 mm and belongs to the Tortricidae family. Adults fly in late summer, typically from August to September. Its larvae feed between folded birch leaves, using Betula species as their host.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Epinotia trigonella is the scientific name for the birch epinotia moth, a member of the Tortricidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan ranges from 16 to 21 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs across most of Europe and extends eastward into the eastern Palearctic realm. The species is also present in North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on birch (Betula) leaves, living between folded or spun leaf sections.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adult moths are on the wing from August through September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period for adults is late summer, specifically August to September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes Europe, the eastern Palearctic, and North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 14 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Massachusetts, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are birch epinotia moths active?
Adults are active and can be seen flying from August to September.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on birch leaves, living between folded or spun leaf sections.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find this moth?
It is found throughout most of Europe, the eastern Palearctic region, and also in North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Tortricidae)
Oblique-banded Leafroller MothChoristoneura rosaceanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden TortrixClepsis peritanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common MarbleSyricoris lacunanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Red-banded Leafroller MothArgyrotaenia velutinanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Light Brown Apple MothEpiphyas postvittanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Aster and Reddish Eucosma Moths and AlliesEucosma parmatanaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epinotia_trigonella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.