Bug FAQSmeathmann's Aethes Moth
Aethes smeathmanniana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
Also called: Yarrow Conch
The moth’s wingspan ranges from about 12 to 19 mm. It occurs across most of Europe, parts of Asia Minor, and in North America, including New Jersey and Newfoundland and Labrador. Adults fly from May through August, and the larvae feed on seeds of plants such as yarrow, knapweeds, and lettuce.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan is 12 to 19 mm (0.47 to 0.75 in).
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on seeds of plants such as yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and various knapweeds (Centaurea spp.). Other recorded food plants include chamomile (Anthemis cotula), black knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa).
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from May to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Found in most of Europe and Asia Minor. Also recorded in North America, specifically New Jersey and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 16 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Montana, Alaska, Michigan, Colorado, California, Washington, Minnesota, Utah.
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 the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on the seeds of yarrow, knapweeds, chamomile, black knapweed and lettuce.
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/Aethes_smeathmanniana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.