The first record of Duponchelia fovealis in North America was in California where live larvae were detected in a shipment of begonias at a Home Depot in the city of Concord in Contra Costa County from the city of San Marcos in San Diego County (CDFA, NAPIS, 2005). In the spring of 2005, this species was discovered in three greenhouses in southern Ontario, Canada.[3] In July, 2010, four male moths were collected in a pheromone trap in San Diego County, California.[2] It is not known at this time if there is an established population.
On November 1, 2010, the USDA-AHIS announced this moth was present in at least 13 U.S. states.[4]