Bug FAQChionodes rabula
Chionodes rabula · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gelechiidae
Chionodes rabula lives in parts of North America, from Ontario and New Jersey down to Florida and several Gulf states. The caterpillars feed on the narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia).
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on the plant Typha angustifolia.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 12 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Where is Chionodes rabula found?
It occurs in North America, from Ontario and New Jersey down to Florida and several Gulf states such as Alabama and Louisiana.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae of Chionodes rabula eat?
The larvae feed on the narrowleaf cattail, Typha angustifolia.
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_rabula
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.