Bug FAQBold-streaked Ethmia
Ethmia trifurcella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Ethmiidae
The forewings measure about 7.6 to 9.8 mm in length (0.30 to 0.39 in). Larvae feed on the leaves of Cynoglossum virginianum, building a tubular shelter on the leaf underside. Adults appear from April through September, depending on the state.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewing pattern is split by a wavy longitudinal line. The dorsal half is white or pale gray with a single dark spot near the basal third, while the costal half is dark brownish-black.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat the leaves of Cynoglossum virginianum, constructing a shelter on the leaf underside.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There are probably two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on wing in April (Florida, Ohio), May (Kentucky), June (Nuevo León, Florida), July (Kentucky, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Maryland) and September (North Carolina).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to North America, including many eastern and western U.S. states and parts of northern Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 14 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Virginia, Arkansas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; 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 Ethmia trifurcella?
Adults are active from April through September, with specific months varying by state.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
The larvae feed on the leaves of Cynoglossum virginianum, living in a tubular shelter on the leaf underside.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Ethmiidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethmia_trifurcella
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.