Bug FAQSunflower Bantam
Frechinia helianthiales · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
The adult’s forewings measure about 6.5 to 8.5 mm long. It lives across North America, from Canadian Manitoba down through several US states to Mexico. Larvae mine the leaves of sunflower species (Helianthus). Adults are on the wing from May through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length ranges from 6.5 to 8.5 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is recorded in Arizona, Illinois, Manitoba, Missouri, Oklahoma and further south to Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on Helianthus species by mining their leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults have been observed flying from May to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range is in North America, including the United States and Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 6 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Missouri, Oklahoma.
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 Sunflower Bantams active?
Adults are on the wing from May through August.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae feed on?
The larvae mine the leaves of sunflower plants (Helianthus).
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalis
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frechinia_helianthiales
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.