Hellinsia paleaceus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1873. It is found in North America, including Florida, Mississippi Maryland, Montana, Texas, California, Nebraska, New Mexico and south-eastern Canada. It has also been recorded from Puerto Rico.
The wingspan is . Adults have been recorded from March to September.
The larvae feed on Vernonia gigantea, Vernonia missurica, Vernonia noveboracensis, Vernonia angustifolia, Vernonia blodgettii and Vernonia cinerea (Cyanthillium cinereum).