Bug FAQPitch Twig Moth
Retinia comstockiana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
Also called: Comstock's Retinia Moth
Source: Wikipedia
It occurs in the United States, including states such as Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. The caterpillars bore into the twigs of pitch pine, feeding on the wood.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on pitch pine (Pinus rigida) by boring into its twigs.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the United States, with records from Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 18 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Alabama, Maryland, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Vermont, North Carolina, Florida.
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 trees do the larvae feed on?
The larvae feed on pitch pine (Pinus rigida) by boring into its twigs.
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/Retinia_comstockiana
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.