Erebidae
Guides
Latebraria amphipyroides
Latebraria amphipyroides is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Guenée in 1852. It occurs from the southern United States through Central America, with confirmed records from Cuba and Costa Rica. The species belongs to the subfamily Calpinae, a group of moths often associated with fruit-feeding habits.
Ledaea
Ledaea is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Herbert Druce in 1891. The genus is currently treated as a synonym of Spargaloma (Grote, 1873) by authoritative sources including the Global Lepidoptera Names Index and Catalogue of Life. The genus originally contained three described species: Ledaea arciva from Panama, Ledaea marcella from Costa Rica, and Ledaea perditalis from North America. These species are now classified under Spargaloma.
Lerina incarnata
crimson-bodied lichen moth
Lerina incarnata, the crimson-bodied lichen moth, is the sole member of the monotypic genus Lerina. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1854. It belongs to the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae (tiger and lichen moths), and tribe Lithosiini (lichen moths). The species is found in Mexico and southern Arizona.
Lesmone aenaria
Lesmone aenaria is a moth species originally described by Druce in 1890. Currently treated as a synonym of Lesmone detrahens (Walker, 1858), this taxon represents a historical name that has been subsumed under a broader species concept. The species belongs to the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae, a diverse group of nocturnal moths commonly known as underwings and related forms. Records indicate presence in North America.
Lesmone fufius
Lesmone fufius is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Schaus in 1894. The species is native to North America and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 8652. It belongs to the genus Lesmone within the subfamily Erebinae. Very few observations of this species have been documented.
Lesmone griseipennis
Gray-winged Owlet Moth, gray-winged owlet
Lesmone griseipennis is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1882, originally placed in the genus Trama. The species is recorded from North America and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 8654. The common name refers to its grayish wing coloration.
Letis
Letis is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, established by Jacob Hübner in 1821. The genus belongs to the subfamily Calpinae within the superfamily Noctuoidea. Several species have been described, including the type species Letis specularis Hübner, 1821, and notable members such as Letis hercyna, Letis magna, and Letis scops. The genus has been documented through 714 iNaturalist observations.
Letis xylia
Letis xylia is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by French entomologist Achille Guenée in 1852. It is known from North America, where it has been recorded in distribution records. The species is assigned Hodges number 8646.1 in the North American moth classification system.
Leucanopsis perdentata
Leucanopsis perdentata is a moth in the family Erebidae, originally described by William Schaus in 1901. It is distributed across parts of Central America and the southwestern United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 35 mm. It belongs to the tiger moth subfamily Arctiinae, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Lithosiina
lichen moths
Lithosiina is a subtribe of lichen moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Gustaf Johan Billberg in 1820. Members are commonly known as lichen moths due to their cryptic coloration. The subtribe was previously classified as the tribe Lithosiini within the subfamily Lithosiinae of the family Arctiidae, reflecting ongoing taxonomic revisions in the tiger moth group. It is a well-documented group with over 130,000 observations on iNaturalist.
Lithosiini
Lichen Moths
Lithosiini is a tribe of lichen moths within the family Erebidae, containing approximately 2,752 species. The taxon was originally described by Gustaf Johan Billberg in 1820 as Lithosiinae at subfamily rank, but was reclassified to tribe status following the reorganization of the former family Arctiidae into the subfamily Arctiinae within Erebidae. Members are commonly known as lichen moths due to their typical cryptic coloration resembling lichen substrates. The tribe is divided into multiple subtribes, though the systematics remain in need of revision.
Litoprosopus
Palm Flower Moth, Palm Budworm
Litoprosopus is a genus of moths in the subfamily Dyopsinae of the family Erebidae, containing approximately seven described species. The genus is best known for Litoprosopus coachella, commonly called the palm flower moth or palm budworm, whose caterpillars feed on ornamental fan palms and frequently enter human dwellings to pupate. Adult moths are medium-sized with relatively dull coloration, while larvae are grub-like, nearly hairless, and possess powerful mandibles capable of delivering a noticeable bite.
Litoprosopus coachella
palm flower moth, palm budworm
Litoprosopus coachella, commonly known as the palm flower moth or palm budworm, is a moth species in the family Erebidae. The species is notable for its larval stage, which feeds on palm flowers and buds, particularly of ornamental fan palms. Mature caterpillars abandon host plants to pupate, frequently entering human dwellings where they spin cocoons incorporating carpet fibers and other materials. The species is widely distributed in North America, with substantial populations in urban areas of the southwestern United States where palm landscaping is common. Adult moths are dull-colored and nocturnal.
Litoprosopus confligens
Litoprosopus confligens is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in North America. The species has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 8559. Very little specific information is available for this species compared to its congener Litoprosopus coachella, which is well-documented as a palm-associated pest in the southwestern United States.
Lophocampa
Lophocampa is a genus of arctiine tussock moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. The genus contains approximately 75 species distributed primarily in North America. Larvae are commonly known as tussock moths and typically exhibit gregarious behavior, forming aggregated colonies on host trees. Several species are notable for their distinctive larval coloration with tufts of hair-like setae.
Lophocampa bicolor
Lophocampa bicolor is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, described by Francis Walker in 1855. The species is known from Mexico and Big Bend National Park, Texas. The original description provides detailed morphological information for males, including distinctive coloration and wing patterns.
Lophocampa indistincta
A tiger moth species in the family Erebidae, described in 1910. Males exhibit dark ocherous coloration with obscure wing markings and hyaline secondaries. Known exclusively from California's Channel Islands, making it a geographically restricted endemic with a wingspan of approximately 43 mm.
Lophocampa mixta
Speckled Tussock Moth
Lophocampa mixta is a tussock moth in the family Erebidae, described by Berthold Neumoegen in 1882. The species occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and Texas. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 37 mm. Larvae feed on Quercus emoryi (Emory oak).
Lophocampa pura
Lophocampa pura is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Berthold Neumoegen in 1882. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with documented records from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and adjacent Mexican states. As a member of the genus Lophocampa, it belongs to a group commonly known as tussock moths, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Lycomorpha
black-and-yellow lichen moths
Lycomorpha is a genus of lichen moths in the family Erebidae, established by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839. The genus comprises six described species distributed primarily in North America, with some species extending into the Neotropics. Members are known for their striking black-and-yellow or black-and-orange coloration and their participation in Müllerian mimicry complexes with net-winged beetles (family Lycidae). The best-studied species, L. pholus, is exclusively diurnal and retains functional hearing despite isolation from bat predation.
Lycomorpha desertus
Lycomorpha desertus is a moth in the family Erebidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1881. It is known from the US state of Arizona. The genus Lycomorpha includes species often associated with mimicry complexes involving net-winged beetles (family Lycidae).
Lycomorpha grotei
Grote's lycomorpha moth
Lycomorpha grotei is a small moth in the family Erebidae, distributed across western North America from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast. Adults are active during summer months with a single annual generation. The species was described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864.
Lycomorphodes
Lycomorphodes is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, tribe Lithosiini. It was established by Hampson in 1900 and contains approximately 21 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The genus is classified within the subfamily Arctiinae (tiger moths and allies).
Lymantriinae
Tussock Moths
Lymantriinae is a subfamily of moths within Erebidae, comprising approximately 350 genera and over 2,500 species. Members are commonly known as tussock moths, referring to the distinctive tufted appearance of their caterpillars. The subfamily has a cosmopolitan distribution absent only from Antarctica, with notable concentrations in sub-Saharan Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and South America. Many species are significant forest defoliators, including economically important pests such as the spongy moth (Lymantria dispar).
Lymire
Edwards' wasp moth (Lymire edwardsii)
Lymire is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Francis Walker in 1854. The genus contains approximately 13 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. The most well-documented species, Lymire edwardsii (Edwards' wasp moth), is known as a significant pest of Ficus trees in Florida. Most species in this genus remain poorly studied with limited biological data available.
Macristis
Macristis is a genus of litter moths within the family Erebidae, described by Schaus in 1916. The genus comprises four recognized species distributed in the Americas. These moths are classified in the subfamily Hypeninae, a group characterized by their association with leaf litter and detritus habitats. Relatively little is known about the biology of most Macristis species.
Macrochilo bivittata
Two-striped Owlet, Two-striped Snout-moth
Macrochilo bivittata is a litter moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1877. The species is known by two common names: Two-striped Owlet and Two-striped Snout-moth. It is distributed across the parklands and southern boreal forest of North America, from the Atlantic coast west to central Alberta.
Manulea bicolor
Manulea bicolor is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1864. It belongs to the tribe Lithosiini, a group commonly known as footman moths. The species is recognized as valid and accepted in taxonomic databases. Distribution records indicate presence in the United States, specifically Vermont.
Massala
Massala is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae. It was established by Francis Walker in 1865. Species in this genus are distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, including parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia. The genus is part of the diverse erebid moth fauna and is characterized by features typical of calpine moths.
Matigramma adoceta
Matigramma adoceta is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae. It was described by John G. Franclemont in 1986. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Matigramma rubrosuffusa
Matigramma rubrosuffusa is a nocturnal moth in the family Erebidae, described by Grote in 1882. It belongs to the diverse subfamily Erebinae, commonly known as the underwing and related moths. The species is known from North America, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented.
Melipotini
Graphic Owlets
Melipotini is a tribe of moths within the family Erebidae, commonly known as Graphic Owlets. The tribe contains multiple genera of nocturnal moths. Members are characterized by their distinctive wing patterns and coloration. The tribe has been documented extensively on iNaturalist with over 77,000 observations.
Melipotis
Melipotis is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, first described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The genus contains approximately 50 recognized species distributed primarily in the Americas. Adults are nocturnal and have been observed visiting flowers, including dandelions. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features including modified palps and leg structures.
Melipotis acontioides
Royal Poinciana Moth
Melipotis acontioides, commonly known as the Royal Poinciana Moth, is a nocturnal moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It has a broad distribution spanning the southern United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, with a distinct subspecies endemic to the Galápagos Islands. The larvae are specialized feeders on certain leguminous trees.
Melipotis cellaris
Cellar Melipotis Moth, Cellar Graphic
Melipotis cellaris is a moth in the family Erebidae with a broad Neotropical and southern Nearctic distribution. Adults have a wingspan of 35-37 mm and are active year-round in at least part of their range. The species has been recorded from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and into South America.
Melipotis fasciolaris
Fasciolated Melipotis, Bewitching Melipotis, Fasciolated Graphic
Melipotis fasciolaris is a moth in the family Erebidae with a wingspan of 33–43 mm. Adults are known to visit flowers and have been observed as pollinators of fetterbush lyonia. The larvae feed exclusively on leaves of Prosopis species. The species occurs across a broad geographic range from the southeastern United States through Central America and the Caribbean to South America.
Melipotis florida
Melipotis florida is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae, described by Troubridge in 2020. It belongs to a genus of noctuid moths distributed primarily in the Americas. As a recently described species, detailed information about its biology and ecology remains limited. The species epithet 'florida' suggests a connection to the state of Florida, though this has not been explicitly confirmed in available sources.
Melipotis indomita
Indomitable Melipotis, Indomitable Graphic Moth
Melipotis indomita is a moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1858. It is widely distributed across the Americas, ranging from the West Indies and Mexico through much of the United States. The species has a wingspan of 40–55 mm and produces multiple generations per year. Larvae feed exclusively on Prosopis species.
Melipotis januaris
January melipotis moth, January Graphic
Melipotis januaris is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It exhibits a broad New World distribution spanning the Caribbean, Florida, and from Mexico to Paraguay. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 35 mm. The larvae are known to feed on Inga laurina.
Melipotis jucunda
Merry Melipotis Moth, Merry Graphic Moth
Melipotis jucunda is a moth in the family Erebidae with a wingspan of 35–42 mm. It occurs across much of North America, from western Canada through the United States to Mexico, with additional records in Colombia and northeast Brazil. The species produces two to three generations annually in New Jersey and multiple generations farther south.
Melipotis nigrobasis
Melipotis nigrobasis is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, described by Guenée in 1852. It is distributed across North America. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 8602. Like other members of the genus Melipotis, it belongs to the subfamily Erebinae, a diverse group of nocturnal moths.
Melipotis perpendicularis
Perpendicular Melipotis Moth, Perpendicular Graphic
Melipotis perpendicularis is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Guenée in 1852. It occurs in North America, with confirmed records from Manitoba, Canada. The species is part of the diverse Melipotis genus, which contains numerous similar-looking underwing and related moths. Its MONA (Moth Photographers Group) Hodges number is 8598, indicating its place in the standardized North American moth numbering system.
Melipotis prolata
Melipotis prolata is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1858. It is native to North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 8606. The species belongs to a genus of nocturnal moths commonly known as underwings or related forms, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Metalectra albilinea
white-lined fungus moth
Metalectra albilinea, commonly known as the white-lined fungus moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Richards in 1941. The species is found in North America and has been assigned Hodges number 8504. Very few observations of this species have been recorded.
Metalectra cinctus
Metalectra cinctus is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, described by Smith in 1905. It belongs to the subfamily Boletobiinae and is found in North America. The species is assigned Hodges number 8508 in the North American moth numbering system. Available information about this species is limited, with only 12 documented observations on iNaturalist.
Metalectra geminicincta
Metalectra geminicincta is a moth species described by Schaus in 1916, belonging to the family Erebidae. The genus Metalectra comprises small to medium-sized moths, many with distinctive wing patterns. This species is recorded from North America. Information on its biology and ecology remains limited.
Metalectra miserulata
Metalectra miserulata is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1882. It is distributed across North America. The species was originally placed in the genus Homopyralis before being transferred to Metalectra. It is assigned Hodges number 8506 in the North American moth numbering system.
Metalectra quadrisignata
Four-spotted Fungus Moth
Metalectra quadrisignata, commonly known as the four-spotted fungus moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1858. The species is characterized by a wingspan of approximately 25 mm and is assigned Hodges number 8500. It is widely distributed across eastern and central North America.
Metallata
metallata moths
Metallata is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae. The genus was erected by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1890. It contains approximately 11 described species distributed from the eastern United States through Central America to South America, including the Caribbean and Galápagos Islands. The genus is most diverse in Central America, with several species endemic to Panama and Costa Rica.
Metria amella
Live Oak Metria Moth
Metria amella, commonly known as the Live Oak Metria Moth, is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae. It is native to North America and is associated with live oak habitats. The species was described by Achille Guenée in 1852, originally placed in the genus Campometra. It is the sole species in the genus Metria, making it taxonomically distinctive among Erebidae.