Bug FAQRuby Aristotelia Moth
Aristotelia rubidella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gelechiidae
The Ruby Aristotelia Moth has rose-colored forewings with deep brownish dusting and distinct streaks and spots. It occurs across many parts of North America, from Canadian provinces such as Alberta and British Columbia to many U.S. states including California, Florida, and Wisconsin.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Forewings are roseate with deep brown dusting, a brown-ochre streak along the inner margin, and a rose-tinged interruption near the middle. A deep brown oblique band runs from the leading edge to the fold near the wing base, with additional brown spots and heavy dusting toward the tip; hindwings are blackish gray.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is found throughout North America, recorded in many U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Louisiana, North Carolina.
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
Where is the Ruby Aristotelia Moth found?
It has been recorded in numerous U.S. states and Canadian provinces across North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What does the Ruby Aristotelia Moth look like?
Its forewings are rose-colored with deep brown dusting, a brown-ochre streak, and distinct brown spots; the hindwings are blackish gray.
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/Aristotelia_rubidella
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.