Bug FAQWalnut Shoot and Hickory Leafstem Borer Moths and Allies
Acrobasis stigmella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Pyralidae
Source: Wikipedia
Acrobasis stigmella larvae eat several species of hickory (Carya). The moth has one generation a year, overwinters as larvae, and pupates in the soil.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on hickory species such as Carya tomentosa, Carya glabra, and Carya pallida.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably only one generation each year. The species spends the winter in the larval stage and later pupates in the soil.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 16 of 51 states and DC. Most records: North Carolina, Mississippi, New York, Texas, Iowa, Alabama, Michigan, Ohio.
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
How many generations does Acrobasis stigmella have per year?
It likely has only one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does this moth overwinter and pupate?
It overwinters as a larva and pupates in the soil.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pyralidae)
Indian-Meal MothPlodia interpunctellaCan damage your home
Greater Wax MothGalleria mellonella
Mediterranean Flour MothEphestia kuehniellaCan damage your home
Meal mothPyralis farinalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bee MothAphomia sociellaNuisance, not dangerous
Yellow-fringed Dolichomia MothHypsopygia olinalisSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrobasis_stigmella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.