Bug FAQDame's Rocket Moth
Plutella porrectella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Plutellidae
Also called: Grey-streaked Smudge
Source: Wikipedia
The Dame's Rocket Moth has a wingspan of about 14 to 17 mm and a head that is ochreous-whitish with a central dark line.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The head is ochreous-whitish with a central dark line, and the forewings are pale ochreous with blackish-dotted edges and a distinctive whitish subdorsal line. The hindwings are light grey.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 14 to 17 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on plants in the Brassicaceae family, including Hesperis matronalis.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period covers May and the months July through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 27 of 51 states and DC. Most records: New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Vermont.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on Brassicaceae species such as Hesperis matronalis.
Source: Wikipedia
When are the adult moths active?
Adults fly in May and again from July through August.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I recognize Dame's Rocket Moth?
Look for a small moth with a 14 to 17 mm wingspan, an ochreous-whitish head with a dark line, pale ochreous forewings with blackish-dotted edges and a whitish subdorsal line, and light grey hindwings.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it damage garden plants?
Yes, the larvae tie and distort the leaves of Brassicaceae plants, which can harm garden herbs.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Plutellidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutella_porrectella
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.