Bug FAQPawpaw Webworm Moth
Omphalocera munroei · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Pyralidae
Also called: Asimina Webworm Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The pawpaw webworm moth lives in several U.S. states including Florida, Indiana and West Virginia. Its caterpillars eat the leaves, buds and twigs of pawpaw (Asimina) plants, which can harm gardens. The larvae build leaf shelters while feeding.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found in the United States, such as Florida, Indiana and West Virginia.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae consume leaves, buds and twigs of Asimina species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 22 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Kansas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How do the larvae protect themselves while feeding?
They build a leaf shelter and feed from inside it.
Source: Wikipedia
Are they a problem for gardens?
Yes, feeding on pawpaw leaves and buds can damage garden plants.
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/Omphalocera_munroei
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.