Bug FAQSnout Plume Moth
Hellinsia longifrons · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Pterophoridae
The snout plume moth has a wingspan of about 25 to 28 mm and shows a mix of grey, brown and white markings on its head, thorax, abdomen and wings. It occurs in Mexico and the southwestern United States (Texas, Arizona and California) and its larvae feed on the plant Acourtia microcephala. Adults are on the wing in July and again in September.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The head is covered with grey scales that have white tips. Antennae are whitish in colour. The abdomen is brownish-grey with a broad whitish dorsal stripe that continues the Y-shaped mark and contains three grey-brown lines, the middle one bearing blackish dots near the segment edges. Hindwings and all wing fringes are grey-brown.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 25 to 28 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on the plant Acourtia microcephala.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active in July and September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The species flies in midsummer and early fall (July and September).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes Mexico and the southwestern United States (Texas, Arizona, California).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 5 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nebraska.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult snout plume moths active?
Adults are on the wing in July and again in September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find this moth?
It occurs in Mexico and the southwestern US states of Texas, Arizona and California.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pterophoridae)
Morning-glory Plume MothEmmelina monodactyla
White Plume MothPterophorus pentadactylaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown Silver-linePetrophora chlorosata
Grape and Sheppard's Plume MothsGeina periscelidactylusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Yarrow Plume MothGillmeria pallidactylaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Plain, Elliott's, and Habeck's Plume MothsHellinsia homodactylusSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellinsia_longifrons
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.