Acontiinae
Guides
Abablemma bilineata
Abablemma bilineata is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1916. It is found in North America. The species belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae, a group of moths often characterized by relatively simple wing patterns and nocturnal habits. Based on iNaturalist records, it has been documented in at least 121 observations, suggesting it is not exceptionally rare within its range.
Abablemma duomaculata
double-eyed algibelle
Abablemma duomaculata is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Acontiinae. It was first described by Barnes and Benjamin in 1925, originally under the genus Phobolosia. The species is known from southern Texas extending into Mexico. It is commonly referred to as the double-eyed algibelle.
Acontia
Acontia is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, established by Ferdinand Ochsenheimer in 1816. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with many species formerly placed here now transferred to Tarache. The genus remains under study, with related genera Eusceptis, Pseudalypia, and Spragueia sometimes included but currently treated as separate pending further research.
Acontia chea
bird dropping moth
Acontia chea is a species of noctuid moth commonly known as a bird dropping moth due to its camouflage resemblance. It was described by Druce in 1889 and is found in North America. The species belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae within the family Noctuidae. As a member of the Acontia genus, it shares the characteristic wing patterns that mimic bird droppings as a defensive adaptation.
Acontia coquillettii
bird dropping moth
Acontia coquillettii is a small noctuid moth species native to western North America. It is characterized by its predominantly white forewings with distinctive grey and olive markings on the distal portion, a pattern that serves as camouflage resembling bird droppings. The species has been documented in California and Oregon, with specific records from the Snake River region in Malheur County. It is one of approximately 20 species in the genus Acontia found in North America.
Acontia jaliscana
Acontia jaliscana is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. It was described by Schaus in 1898 from specimens collected in Jalisco, Mexico. The species is part of a genus characterized by small to medium-sized moths with often striking wing patterns. Records indicate presence in North America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Acontia n-sp-two
Acontia n-sp-two is an undescribed species in the genus Acontia, a group of small to medium-sized moths in the family Noctuidae. As an undescribed species, it has been documented in entomological collections but lacks formal taxonomic description. Members of Acontia are generally characterized by distinctive wing patterns and are primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. The species awaits formal description to establish its diagnostic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships.
Acontiini
Acontiini is a tribe of moths within the subfamily Acontiinae (family Noctuidae). Members are generally small to medium-sized noctuoid moths. The tribe has been the subject of taxonomic revision, with some genera historically placed here later reassigned to related tribes. Acontiini includes species with diverse morphologies but generally shares characteristics of reduced or simplified wing venation patterns compared to other noctuine groups.
Aetole cera
Aetole cera is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. Species in this genus are generally small to medium-sized moths with distinctive wing patterns. The genus Aetole is part of the diverse tribe Acontiini, which contains many species with cryptic or aposematic coloration.
Aleptinoides ochrea
Aleptinoides ochrea is a noctuid moth species described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1912. It belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae and tribe Chamaecleini. The species is known from North America. Records from the Meloidae Holdings list appear to be a taxonomic error, as this species is definitively a lepidopteran, not a coleopteran.
Argillophora furcilla
Forked Halter Moth
Argillophora furcilla is a noctuid moth species in the subfamily Acontiinae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. The species is known by the common name Forked Halter Moth. It occurs in North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available sources. The genus Argillophora is small and not well studied, with limited published information on life history traits.
Bandelia
Bandelia is a genus of moths established by Lindsey in 1923, currently classified in the family Erebidae. The genus contains two described species: Bandelia angulata and Bandelia dimera. Its taxonomic placement has been revised multiple times, having previously been assigned to Phytometrinae within Erebidae or Acontiinae within Noctuidae. The genus is known from North America.
Bandelia angulata
Bandelia angulata is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Acontiinae, first described by Barnes and Lindsey in 1922. The species is known from North America, with records indicating presence across parts of the continent. As a member of the Acontiinae, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized noctuoid moths.
Chamaeclea
Chamaeclea is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. The genus contains two recognized species: Chamaeclea basiochrea and Chamaeclea pernana. Both species are native to North America. The genus was established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883.
Chamaecleini
bird dropping moths
Chamaecleini is a small tribe of moths within the family Noctuidae, containing approximately 9 genera and 14 described species. The tribe was formally established by Keegan & Wagner in 2019. Members are commonly referred to as "bird dropping moths," a name reflecting their cryptic coloration that resembles avian feces. The tribe includes genera such as Chamaeclea, Megalodes, and Aleptinoides.
Eusceptis
bird dropping moths
Eusceptis is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, commonly referred to as bird dropping moths. The genus was established by Hübner in 1823 and currently contains eleven described species distributed in the Americas. Its taxonomic status has been debated, with some authors treating it as a synonym of Acontia, though it is currently maintained as a distinct genus pending further research. The common name reflects the resemblance of some species to bird droppings, a form of protective camouflage.
Eusceptis flavifrimbriata
Eusceptis flavifrimbriata is a noctuid moth described by Todd in 1971. It belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae, a group of small to medium-sized moths often with distinctive wing patterns. The species is known from Mexico and has been documented in North America. Beyond these basic taxonomic and distributional facts, little detailed biological information has been published.
Heminocloa
Heminocloa is a monotypic genus of owlet moths (Noctuidae) established by Barnes and Benjamin in 1924. It contains a single species, Heminocloa mirabilis, first described by Neumoegen in 1884. The genus is restricted to Arizona, United States.
Hemioslaria pima
Hemioslaria pima is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, representing the sole member of its monotypic genus. The species was first described by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1924. It is known only from the US state of Arizona, with 47 documented observations on iNaturalist. The genus and species are classified within the subfamily Acontiinae and tribe Chamaecleini.
Marimatha nigrofimbria
Black-bordered Lemon Moth
Marimatha nigrofimbria, the Black-bordered Lemon Moth, is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of 18–22 mm. It is characterized by yellowish forewings with distinct black borders along the outer margins. The species is widespread in eastern North America, with populations extending west to Arizona and California. It is listed as Critically Imperiled in New York State due to its position at the northern range limit.
Marimatha tripuncta
Three-spotted Lemon Moth
Marimatha tripuncta is a small noctuid moth described by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1890. It occurs in the Caribbean and southern Florida, with adults active from late April through mid-October. The species belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae, a group of generally small, often yellowish moths. The common name "Three-spotted Lemon Moth" refers to the characteristic three dark spots on the pale yellow forewings.
Ozarba
Ozarba is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae, established by Francis Walker in 1865. The genus contains over 200 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with particularly high diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and parts of Asia. Species exhibit considerable variation in wing pattern and coloration, though many share characteristic forewing markings. The genus has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision, particularly by Hacker and colleagues in the 2010s.
Ozarba
Ozarba n-sp is an undescribed or unidentified species in the genus Ozarba, a group of small noctuid moths in the subfamily Acontiinae. The genus Ozarba contains numerous species distributed across multiple continents, with many species poorly known or awaiting formal description. Members of this genus are typically small, nocturnal moths with relatively plain forewings. The specific epithet "n-sp" indicates this record represents a species not yet assigned a formal scientific name.
Ozarba nebula
Nebula Brown
Ozarba nebula is a noctuid moth species described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1918. It belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae within the owlet moth family Noctuidae. The species occurs in North America and is known by the common name Nebula Brown. It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9033.
Phobolosia anfracta
Phobolosia anfracta is a small moth species described by Henry Edwards in 1881, originally placed in the genus Nola. It belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae within the family Noctuidae. The species is known from North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 8439. Despite its relatively broad geographic range, detailed biological information remains limited.
Phoenicophanta bicolor
Phoenicophanta bicolor is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1916. It is known from North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 9028. The genus Phoenicophanta is placed in the subfamily Acontiinae.
Phoenicophanta modestula
Phoenicophanta modestula is a small noctuid moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1924. It belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae, a group of small, often brightly patterned owlet moths. The species is known from North America, with scattered records across the continent. It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9029.
Ponometia
Ponometia is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. The genus was erected by Herrich-Schäffer in 1868 and contains approximately 45 described species. Some authorities treat Ponometia as a synonym of Acontia, reflecting ongoing taxonomic debate. Species in this genus have been historically classified under several other genera including Conochares, Fruva, and Tarachidia.
Ponometia altera
Ponometia altera is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of approximately 21 mm. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically in New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The larvae feed on Ericameria species, a genus of shrubs in the sunflower family.
Ponometia binocula
Prairie Bird-dropping Moth
Ponometia binocula, commonly known as the prairie bird-dropping moth, is a noctuid moth species first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. It belongs to the bird-dropping moth group, named for their resemblance to avian feces. The species has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 9089.
Ponometia cuta
bird dropping moth
Ponometia cuta is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, first described by Smith in 1905. It belongs to a group commonly known as bird dropping moths, recognized for their cryptic coloration resembling avian feces. The species is native to North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 9094.
Ponometia elegantula
Arizona bird-dropping moth
Ponometia elegantula, commonly known as the Arizona bird-dropping moth, is a noctuid moth species first described by Leon F. Harvey in 1876. The species belongs to the bird-dropping moth group, named for their resemblance to avian feces as a form of protective camouflage. It is recorded across North America with confirmed observations in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The species is assigned Hodges number 9109 in the North American Moth Photographers Group system.
Ponometia exigua
Bicolored Bird-dropping Moth
Ponometia exigua is a noctuid moth commonly known as the Bicolored Bird-dropping Moth. First described by Fabricius in 1793, it occurs across the southeastern United States, Caribbean islands, and extends through Central America to Brazil. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism. Larvae feed on specific host plants including Erechtites hieraciifolia and Waltheria ovata.
Ponometia huita
Ponometia huita is a small moth species in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. It was originally described as Acontia huita by Smith in 1903 and later transferred to Ponometia. The genus Ponometia contains numerous small, often brightly patterned noctuid moths commonly known as bird-dropping moths due to their camouflage appearance. This species is part of a taxonomically complex group with ongoing revisions.
Ponometia libedis
Ponometia libedis is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, first described by Smith in 1900. It belongs to the bird dropping moth group, named for their cryptic coloration that resembles avian feces. The species is cataloged under MONA/Hodges number 9096. Taxonomic placement has shifted between Ponometia and Acontia, with current sources favoring Ponometia.
Ponometia mcdunnoughi
Ponometia mcdunnoughi is a small noctuid moth in the subfamily Acontiinae. It was originally described as Graeperia mcdunnoughi by Barnes & Benjamin in 1923. The species is known from limited observations, with 21 records documented on iNaturalist. Like other members of the genus Ponometia, it is presumed to be nocturnal.
Ponometia nigra
bird dropping moth
Ponometia nigra is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Mustelin in 2006. It belongs to the bird dropping moth group, a common name applied to several genera in the subfamily Acontiinae whose members often resemble bird droppings as a form of camouflage. The species is known from North America. It is cataloged under Hodges number 9101.1 in the North American moth numbering system.
Ponometia parvula
Ponometia parvula is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. Originally described by Walker in 1865 as Xanthodes parvula, it has been subsequently placed in the genus Ponometia. The species is part of a group of small, often brightly patterned noctuid moths commonly known as bird-dropping moths due to their camouflage resemblance. Available records indicate limited observational data, with 23 observations documented on iNaturalist.
Ponometia pulchra
bird-dropping moth
Ponometia pulchra is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, first described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1910. It belongs to a group commonly known as bird-dropping moths due to their cryptic appearance resembling avian feces. The species occurs in North America and is assigned Hodges number 9104.
Ponometia septuosa
Ponometia septuosa is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. It was described from North America in 1986. The species belongs to a genus whose members are commonly known as bird dropping moths due to their camouflage appearance.
Ponometia sutrix
bird dropping moth
Ponometia sutrix is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, commonly referred to as a bird dropping moth due to its resemblance to bird droppings—a form of protective camouflage. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1880, originally under the genus Tarache. It is currently classified in the genus Ponometia within the subfamily Acontiinae. The species has been recorded in North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in published sources.
Ponometia tortricina
Yellowish Bird-dropping Moth
Ponometia tortricina is a small moth species in the family Noctuidae, commonly known as the Yellowish Bird-dropping Moth. It belongs to a group of moths whose camouflage resembles bird droppings, an adaptation that helps avoid predation. The species was first described by Zeller in 1872 and has been recorded across multiple observation platforms.
Ponometia venustula
Pretty Bird-Dropping Moth
Ponometia venustula, commonly known as the Pretty Bird-Dropping Moth, is a species of noctuid moth first described by Francis Walker in 1865. It belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae, a group commonly referred to as bird-dropping moths due to their resemblance to avian feces as a defensive camouflage. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9087 and has been documented across North America with over 1,000 observations on iNaturalist.
Proroblemma testa
Proroblemma testa is a moth species in the family Noctuidae (subfamily Acontiinae), originally described from North America in 1913. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9080. As a member of the genus Proroblemma, it belongs to a group of small moths whose larvae are often associated with specific host plants, though detailed biological information for this particular species remains limited.
Spragueia guttata
spotted spragueia
Spragueia guttata, commonly known as the spotted spragueia, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. It is found across North America. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. The common name "spotted spragueia" refers to its characteristic spotted wing pattern. It is assigned Hodges number 9125 in the North American moth numbering system.
Spragueia magnifica
magnificent bird dropping moth
Spragueia magnifica is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. It is one of approximately 20 species in the genus Spragueia, a group commonly known as bird dropping moths due to their resemblance to avian feces. The species occurs in North America and is assigned Hodges number 9121 in the North American Moth Photographers Group numbering system. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be nocturnal and attracted to light sources.
Spragueia obatra
Spragueia obatra is a species of bird dropping moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Morrison in 1875. It occurs in North America and is assigned Hodges number 9130. The species has been documented in citizen science observations, with 467 records on iNaturalist. It is classified within the subfamily Acontiinae, a group of small noctuid moths often associated with bird dropping mimicry.
Spragueia perstructana
Spragueia perstructana is a small noctuid moth described by Francis Walker in 1865. It is notable for its specialized larval diet on Lantana camara, an invasive shrub in many regions. The species occurs across a broad geographic range from the southern United States through the Caribbean and into Central America. Its small size and specific host association distinguish it within the genus Spragueia.
Tarache
Tarache is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1823. The genus comprises primarily New World species, most of which were formerly classified under the genus Acontia. Taxonomic authorities differ on its status: Catalogue of Life treats Tarache as accepted, while GBIF and some lepidopteran resources list it as a synonym of Acontia. The genus includes approximately 50 described species arranged in three main species groups (aprica, bilimeki, and lucasi groups).
Tarache apela
bird dropping moth
Tarache apela is a species of bird dropping moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Druce in 1889. The species belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae, a group commonly known as bird dropping moths due to their camouflage coloration that resembles avian feces. The genus Tarache was previously treated as a synonym of Acontia, and some sources still list this species as Acontia apela. The MONA (Moth Photographers Group) or Hodges number for this species is 9133.