Bug Identifier
Parsnip Webworm Moth (Larva/Pupa Stage)
Community identification

Parsnip Webworm Moth (Larva/Pupa Stage)

Depressaria radiella

Order & Family
Lepidoptera, Depressariidae
Size
Caterpillars grow to about 12-15 mm (0.5 inches) in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in open fields, roadsides, and meadows where host plants like wild parsnip and cow parsnip grow.

Diet & Feeding

Feed primarily on the flowers and developing seeds of plants in the Apiaceae family (parsnips, carrots, and hogweed).

Behavior Patterns

They spin silken webs around the flowering heads (umbels) of their host plants to create a protective shelter while feeding.

Risks & Benefits

The moth is considered a pest in parsnip seed production but can help control invasive wild parsnip populations; contact with host plant juices while handling larvae may cause skin irritation (phytophotodermatitis).