Bug FAQTufted Apple Bud Moth
Platynota idaeusalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
The tufted apple bud moth has a wingspan between about 12 and 25 mm. It lives in the eastern part of North America, from Ontario down to Florida and west to Oklahoma. Adults appear in early summer, typically June to July in the northern part of its range, and the species can produce several generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Platynota idaeusalis, called the tufted apple bud moth, belongs to the Tortricidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from roughly 12 mm up to 25 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found across eastern North America, from Ontario southward to Florida and westward to Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There are several generations of this moth each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adult moths are on the wing from June through July in the northern part of their range.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is a member of the Tortricidae family, which includes many similar-looking moths.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 42 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Alabama, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey.
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
When can I see adult tufted apple bud moths?
Adults are active from June to July in the northern part of their range.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
The species produces multiple generations annually.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the tufted apple bud moth found?
It occurs in eastern North America, from Ontario down to Florida and west to Oklahoma.
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
Filbertworm MothCydia latiferreanaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platynota_idaeusalis
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.