Bug FAQBlackthorn Blister Moth
Lyonetia prunifoliella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Lyonetiidae
Also called: Striped Bent-wing
Source: Wikipedia
The adult moth is tiny, with a wingspan of about 9 to 10 mm. Adults appear in September, survive the winter, and are seen again in spring. Its larvae feed on many trees and shrubs such as birch, hawthorn, quince, peach, plum, pear and various Sorbus species.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults are on the wing in September, overwinter, and reappear in the spring.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan measures roughly 9 to 10 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on leaves of birch, hawthorn, quince, medlar, apricot, cherry plum, almond, mahaleb, peach, blackthorn, pear and many Sorbus species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults emerge in September, then overwinter and are seen again in spring.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is active in September and reappears after overwintering in the spring.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its core European range excludes Ireland, the Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean islands.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 11 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Minnesota, California, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Colorado, Kentucky, Maine.
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 can I expect to see these moths?
Adults are on the wing in September, survive the winter, and show up again in spring.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the larvae feed on?
They eat the foliage of many trees and shrubs, including birch, hawthorn, quince, apricot, peach, plum, almond, pear and Sorbus species.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Lyonetiidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyonetia_prunifoliella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.