Chionodes praeclarella

Chionodes praeclarella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of North America.^[1] It also is found in Europe, where the range is limited to Austria, Switzerland and Italy.^[2]

Chionodes praeclarella
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Gelechiidae
Genus:	Chionodes
Species:	C. praeclarella
Binomial name
Chionodes praeclarella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854)
Synonyms
Gelechia praeclarella Herrich-Schäffer, 1854 Gelechia pergrandella Rebel 1917 Gelechia labradorica Möschler, 1864 Gelechia fluvialella Busck, 1908

The wingspan is 18–20 mm. The forewings are light brown, with a strong purplish sheen, especially towards the apex. The exterior edge of the cell and the apical veins are roughly indicated by ill-defined, purplish-black longitudinal lines, more or less confluent towards the apex. The hindwings are light fuscous.^[3]

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Polygonaceae species.