Bug FAQBlack-spotted Twirler
Deltophora sella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gelechiidae
Also called: Black-spotted Twirler Moth
The Black-spotted Twirler is a small moth in the Gelechiidae family, with forewings 5 to 7 mm long. It lives in several U.S. states, including North Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Texas and California. Adults are on the wing from March through September and again in November.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Black-spotted Twirler belongs to the moth family Gelechiidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its forewings measure between 5 and 7 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in the United States, specifically in North Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Texas and California.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is active during the months of March through September and also in November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes several U.S. states such as North Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Texas and California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 28 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, Arkansas, California.
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 Black-spotted Twirler moths active?
Adults are on the wing from March through September and again in November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find Black-spotted Twirler moths?
They occur in several U.S. states, including North Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Texas and California.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Gelechiidae)
Angoumois Grain MothSitotroga cerealellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Black-smudged Chionodes MothChionodes mediofuscella
Inverse and Kimball's Dichomeris MothsDichomeris inversella
Pink-washed Aristotelia MothAristotelia roseosuffusella
White Stripe-backed MothArogalea cristifasciella
Burdock Seedhead MothMetzneria lappellaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deltophora_sella
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.