Carrot seed moth

Carrot seed moth is medium-sized snout moth. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The first sighting in North America was in Illinois ion 2002. It has rapidly spread since its introduction. In 2008 in was collected in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It is now well established in North America from Maine to North Carolina west to North Dakota and Missouri, and in Quebec and Ontario Canada. It is still uncommon in Minnesota. Adults are found from June to July in grasslands, gardens, and anywhere else its host species are found. The larva feeds on seed heads of umbellifers, especially Queen Anne’s lace, but also fennel, American cow parsnip, and wild parsnip. It spins a web pulling together flowers within an umbellet. It feeds within the web and later hibernates within it.

Adults are have a slender body, are 7⁄16″ to ½″ (11 to 13 mm) long, and have a wingspan of 1″ to 1⅜″ (26 to 34 mm). The abdomen is longer than the hindwings, but this is not visible at rest, when both are covered by the forewings. The wings are broad and are held folded flat when at rest. They are usually silky white, sometimes pale yellow or straw-colored, rarely yellow. Regardless of the base color they usually have a faint greenish tint. On the forewing the veins are slightly darkened in the submarginal area and there is usually a patch of dark scales in the median area at the end of the forewing cell.

Total length: 7⁄16″ to ½″ (11 to 13 mm)

Wingspan: 1″ to 1⅜″ (26 to 34 mm)

Grasslands

One generation per year: June and July

The larva spins a web pulling together flowers within an umbellet. It feeds within the web and later hibernates within it.

Adults fly at dusk and at will come to light at night.

Seed heads of umbellifers, especially Queen Anne’s lace, but also fennel, American cow parsnip, and wild parsnip.