Bug FAQChionodes fondella
Chionodes fondella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gelechiidae
The moth has a wingspan of about 13 to 14 mm. Its forewings are whitish-ochreous with a faint rose tint and two large black spots, while the hindwings are light ochreous-fuscous. It lives in North America from Nova Scotia to southern Manitoba and down to states such as Montana, Colorado, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The larvae feed on plants in the genera Antennaria, Anaphilis, Gnaphalium and on Monarda fistulosa.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Two large black costal spots appear on the forewings, one at the basal third slanting outward and another at the apical third slanting inward, both reaching the wing middle; the wing tip is dusted with black. Hindwings are light ochreous-fuscous.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 13 to 14 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It has been recorded across North America, from Nova Scotia to southern Manitoba and in several U.S. states including Montana, Colorado, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on species of Antennaria, Anaphilis, Gnaphalium, and on Monarda fistulosa.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes North America, spanning eastern Canada to the central United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 20 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae eat?
The larvae feed on Antennaria, Anaphilis, Gnaphalium species, and on Monarda fistulosa.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
It is found in North America, from Nova Scotia to southern Manitoba and in U.S. states such as Montana, Colorado, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Gelechiidae)
Angoumois Grain MothSitotroga cerealellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Boxelder Leafworm MothChionodes obscurusella
Hairy, Toothed, and Shining Dichomeris Moths and AlliesDichomeris setosella
Black-smudged Chionodes Moth and AlliesChionodes occidentellaBlack-smudged Chionodes MothChionodes mediofuscella
Inverse and Kimball's Dichomeris MothsDichomeris inversellaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chionodes_fondella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.