It is found in Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky in the United States.

It is now classified as conspecific with the American chestnut moth, which was formerly considered as extinct.

The larvae are full grown in October and early November, producing adults in May and June of the following year.

The moth's synergistic relationship with the North American nut species led to a catastrophic population decline when almost all of the American chestnut trees fell victim to chestnut blight.

[3][4] The American chestnut tree moth was later found to still be extant within populations of Zimmermannia bosquella.