Bug FAQJavelin Moth
Bactra verutana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
The Javelin Moth has a wingspan of about 11 to 17 mm. In North America it is recorded from many U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and it also occurs in parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, and southern Africa. The larvae feed on the leaves and basal parts of sedges such as Cyperus esculentus, Scirpus and Juncus species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 11 mm to 17 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Occurs in North America, including many U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, California, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, North Carolina.
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 do Javelin Moth larvae feed on?
They feed on the leaves and basal parts of sedges such as Cyperus esculentus, Scirpus and Juncus species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the Javelin Moth found?
It is found across North America and also in parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, and southern Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Tortricidae)
Oblique-banded Leafroller MothChoristoneura rosaceanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden TortrixClepsis peritanaDamages 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 cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactra_verutana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.