Bug FAQTwo-banded Catoptria Moth
Catoptria latiradiellus · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Three-spotted Crambus Moth, Two-banded Catoptria
The two-banded Catoptria moth lives across North America from Yukon and British Columbia east to Newfoundland and south to Pennsylvania, Michigan and Colorado. Adults are seen flying in July and August, while the caterpillars probably eat mosses.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It is a moth in the family Crambidae, also called the three-spotted crambus moth.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs throughout North America, from Yukon and British Columbia to Newfoundland, and south to Pennsylvania, Michigan and Colorado.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae probably feed on mosses.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from July to August.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period for adults is July through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes much of Canada and the northern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 23 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Montana, Michigan, Colorado, Washington, Minnesota, Idaho, Maine, Alaska.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult two-banded Catoptria moths active?
Adults fly during July and August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found in North America?
It is recorded from Yukon and British Columbia east to Newfoundland, and south to Pennsylvania, Michigan and Colorado.
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/Catoptria_latiradiellus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.