Bug FAQWhite Plume Moth
Pterophorus pentadactyla · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Pterophoridae
Also called: White Plume
Source: Wikipedia
The white plume moth is pure white with its wings split into five feather-like plumes to two on the forewing and three on the hindwing. It lives in rough grassland, road verges and gardens across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and as far east as Iran, and its larvae feed on bindweed and sweet-potato leaves and flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It is considered a pest species because its larvae feed on cultivated plants such as sweet-potato.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on bindweed (Convolvulus species). In Nigeria the larvae also feed on sweet-potato (Ipomoea batatas).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
It overwinters as a small larva. The adult is nocturnal, emerging at dusk and flying during June and July.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from June to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It occurs across the West Palearctic, including Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae feed on?
The larvae eat bindweed and, in some regions, sweet-potato leaves and flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
When are the adult moths active?
Adults are nocturnal and fly from June through August, especially in June and July.
Source: Wikipedia
Is the white plume moth a pest?
Yes, it is regarded as a pest because its larvae feed on garden and crop plants such as bindweed and sweet-potato.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pterophoridae)
Morning-glory Plume MothEmmelina monodactylaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown Silver-linePetrophora chlorosata
Belfrage's Plume MothPselnophorus belfragei
Sage Plume MothAnstenoptilia marmarodactyla
Artichoke Plume MothPlatyptilia carduidactylusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Ragweed Plume MothAdaina ambrosiaeDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterophorus_pentadactyla
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 2026-10-22.