Bug FAQBlack-marked Plume Moth
Hellinsia inquinatus · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Pterophoridae
The Black-marked Plume Moth has a wingspan of about 16 to 18 mm. Adults fly in April, June and December, and the larvae feed on several weed species such as ragweed and Parthenium.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It belongs to the plume-moth family Pterophoridae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 16 to 18 mm (about 0.6 in).
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on ragweed species (Ambrosia artemissiifolia and Ambrosia trifida) and on Parthenium hysterophorus.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing in April, June and December.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is active during the months of April, June and December.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes North America and the listed U.S. states.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 37 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult Black-marked Plume Moths?
Adults are active in April, June and December.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on ragweed species (Ambrosia artemissiifolia, Ambrosia trifida) and on Parthenium hysterophorus.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pterophoridae)
Morning-glory Plume MothEmmelina monodactyla
White Plume MothPterophorus pentadactylaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown Silver-linePetrophora chlorosata
Yarrow Plume MothGillmeria pallidactylaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Belfrage's Plume MothPselnophorus belfragei
Sage Plume MothAnstenoptilia marmarodactylaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellinsia_inquinatus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.