Bug FAQRagweed Plume Moth
Adaina ambrosiae · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Pterophoridae
Also called: Ambrosia Plume Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The ragweed plume moth has a wingspan of about half an inch to two-thirds of an inch. It lives across North America from California to Florida and up into Ontario, and is also found on several Caribbean islands and in Central America. The caterpillars eat a variety of plants including ragweeds, sunflowers, artichokes and other garden species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 13 to 17 mm (about 0.5 to 0.7 in).
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on many Ambrosia species, Pluchea rosea, Melanthera nivea, sunflowers, cocklebur, and artichoke.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active almost all year in the southern part of their range.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
In the south, adults can be seen on the wing nearly year-round.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 29 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, California, Mississippi, Alabama, Kansas, Illinois.
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
What plants do the ragweed plume moth larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on ragweeds, sunflowers, artichokes and several other garden plants.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult ragweed plume moths active?
Adults are on the wing almost all year in the southern part of their range.
Source: Wikipedia
How big is the ragweed plume moth?
Its wingspan measures about 13 to 17 mm (0.5 to 0.7 in).
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the ragweed plume moth found?
It occurs across North America from California to Florida and up to Ontario, and also on several Caribbean islands and in Central America.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pterophoridae)
Morning-glory Plume MothEmmelina monodactylaDamages trees, gardens or crops
White Plume MothPterophorus pentadactylaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown Silver-linePetrophora chlorosata
Belfrage's Plume MothPselnophorus belfragei
Sage Plume MothAnstenoptilia marmarodactyla
Artichoke Plume MothPlatyptilia carduidactylusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaina_ambrosiae
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.