Bug FAQTriangle-backed Pelochrista Moth and Allies
Pelochrista dorsisignatana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
Also called: Triangle-backed Eucosma Moth, Triangle-backed Pelochrista Moth
The triangle-backed moth has a wingspan of about 12 to 22 mm. It lives across North America, from Nova Scotia down to Florida and west to Texas, reaching north to Manitoba. Adults are active from July through November, and the larvae feed on the roots of goldenrod (Solidago) plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Eucosma dorsisignatana, also called the triangle-backed eucosma, belongs to the Tortricidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 12 to 22 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on the roots of Solidago (goldenrod) species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from July through November.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from July to November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to North America, recorded from eastern Canada down to the southern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 36 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan, Mississippi.
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
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/Eucosma_dorsisignatana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.