Bug FAQCream-edged Dichomeris Moth and Allies
Dichomeris flavocostella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gelechiidae
Also called: Cream-bordered Dichomeris, Cream-edged Dichomeris Moth
The cream-edged dichomeris moth has a wingspan of about 15 to 18 mm and belongs to the Gelechiidae family. Adults are active from May through August.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The cream-edged dichomeris moth is a member of the Gelechiidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 15 to 18 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on plants in the Solidago (goldenrod) and Aster genera.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May to August.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is active during the months of May through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to North America, spanning from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States down to the Gulf Coast and westward to the central plains.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
No specific look-alike species are noted; it is identified as a Gelechiidae moth.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Maryland.
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 large is the cream-edged dichomeris moth?
Its wingspan measures about 15 to 18 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on goldenrod (Solidago) and aster species.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Gelechiidae)
Angoumois Grain MothSitotroga cerealellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Black-smudged Chionodes MothChionodes mediofuscella
Inverse and Kimball's Dichomeris MothsDichomeris inversella
Pink-washed Aristotelia MothAristotelia roseosuffusella
White Stripe-backed MothArogalea cristifasciella
Burdock Seedhead MothMetzneria lappellaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichomeris_flavocostella
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.