Bug FAQBlack-fringed Leaftier Moth
Psilocorsis cryptolechiella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Depressariidae
Also called: Black-fringed Psilocorsis Moth, Black-fringed Psilocorsis
The black-fringed leaftier moth has a wingspan of about 16 mm. It belongs to the family Depressariidae and is known as Psilocorsis cryptolechiella. Its larvae feed on beech trees (Fagus species) and make shelters by tying leaves together.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Psilocorsis cryptolechiella is a moth of the family Depressariidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan is roughly 16 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on leaves of beech trees such as Fagus grandifolia.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The caterpillars create leaf shelters while feeding on beech leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range is within the United States, covering the same states listed for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Oklahoma.
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
What do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on beech species, especially Fagus grandifolia.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the black-fringed leaftier moth found?
It is found in several U.S. states such as Alabama, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Depressariidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocorsis_cryptolechiella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.