Bug FAQGarden Tortrix
Clepsis peritana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
Also called: Garden Tortrix Moth
Source: Wikipedia
Adults are small moths with a wingspan of about 10 to 15 mm in males and 12 to 15 mm in females. They have a light-green abdomen that may change colour depending on the host plant, and a yellow-brown head. They are found across Spain, Cuba and throughout North America from southern Canada to the United States, and are on the wing from March through September in several generations.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The abdomen is light green but can vary with the plant they feed on, and the head is yellowish-brown.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of 10 to 15 mm; females are slightly larger at 12 to 15 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They occur in Spain, Cuba and across North America, from southern Canada down through the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on plants such as chrysanthemum, artichoke, ragwort, betony, strawberry, citrus, California figwort and turkey berry.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are seen from March to September and there are several generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They are active on the wing from early spring through late summer (March-September).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Their range includes Spain, Cuba and the whole of North America from southern Canada to the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 46 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Alabama, California, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae damage?
The larvae feed on a range of garden and crop plants including chrysanthemum, artichoke, ragwort, betony, strawberry, citrus, California figwort and turkey berry.
Source: Wikipedia
When are garden tortrix adults active?
Adults are on the wing from March through September, producing several generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find garden tortrix moths?
They are found in Spain, Cuba and throughout North America, from southern Canada to the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Tortricidae)
Oblique-banded Leafroller MothChoristoneura rosaceanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common MarbleSyricoris lacunanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Red-banded Leafroller MothArgyrotaenia velutinanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Light Brown Apple MothEpiphyas postvittanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Filbertworm MothCydia latiferreanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Codling MothCydia pomonellaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clepsis_peritana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.