Bug FAQMaple Tip Borer Moth
Episimus tyrius · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
Also called: Maple Leaftier Moth
Source: Wikipedia
Maple tip borer moths have a wingspan of about 9 to 12 mm. The larvae feed mainly on maple leaves and can harm maple trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan ranges from 9 to 12 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed primarily on maple trees (Acer) and can also use redbay and Carolina laurelcherry as hosts.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active year-round in Florida, but in other parts of their range they fly from June through August.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight season is continuous in Florida, while elsewhere it is limited to June-August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is the eastern United States, spanning New York to Florida and west to Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 19 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Maryland, Louisiana, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, New Jersey, Mississippi.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are maple tip borer moths active?
In Florida they are active all year, but in other regions they are seen from June to August.
Source: Wikipedia
What trees do the larvae damage?
The larvae mainly feed on maples, which can lead to damage of those trees.
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
Aster and Reddish Eucosma Moths and AlliesEucosma parmatanaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episimus_tyrius
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.