Erebidae
Guides
Prosoparia anormalis
Prosoparia anormalis is a moth species described by Barnes & McDunnough in 1912, originally placed in the genus Friesia. It is currently treated as a synonym of Prosoparia perfuscaria, a member of the Erebidae family (subfamily Calpinae). The species has been recorded in North America with 39 observations documented on iNaturalist. As a synonym, its taxonomic status is uncertain and it may represent a variant or misidentification of the accepted species.
Prosoparia floridana
Prosoparia floridana is a moth species in the family Erebidae, described by Lafontaine and Dickel in 2009. It is found in North America. The species has a MONA/Hodges number of 8419.2. As a relatively recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Psammathodoxa cochlidioides
Psammathodoxa cochlidioides is a small moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae. The species was described from specimens collected in southern Texas and Mexico. It is characterized by distinctive wing patterning with numerous wavy transverse lines.
Pseudocharis
lesser wasp moth (for P. minima)
Pseudocharis is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Euchromiina. It was erected by Herbert Druce in 1884. The genus contains approximately nine described species distributed primarily in the Neotropics, with at least one species (P. minima) occurring in North America. Species in this genus exhibit wasp-mimicking coloration, a characteristic trait of the Euchromiina.
Pseudohemihyalea ambigua
red-banded aemilia
Pseudohemihyalea ambigua, commonly known as the red-banded aemilia, is a moth species in the family Erebidae (subfamily Arctiinae). It occurs from southern Wyoming southward through the Rocky Mountain and southwestern United States to Durango, Mexico. Adults are active from June to August, with forewing lengths of approximately 22 mm in males and 24 mm in females. The larvae feed on Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine).
Pseudohemihyalea splendens
A medium-sized moth in the family Erebidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1910. Adults are active from late July through mid-November and are found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is notable for its relatively narrow geographic range centered on the Madrean sky islands and adjacent Mexican highlands.
Pseudorgyia russula
Pseudorgyia russula is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. It is found in North America, where it inhabits diverse terrestrial environments. As a member of the subfamily Calpinae, it belongs to a group of moths with varied feeding habits and ecological roles. The species has been documented through citizen science observations, with over 200 records contributing to knowledge of its distribution.
Psilopleura polia
Psilopleura polia is a moth species in the subfamily Arctiinae, first described by Herbert Druce in 1898. The species has a notably disjunct distribution, occurring from southern Texas through Central America and extending to Vanuatu in the southwestern Pacific. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 38 mm. Limited phenological data indicates adult activity in November in Texas, though broader seasonal patterns across its range remain undocumented.
Ptichodis pacalis
Ptichodis pacalis is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae. It is a small species with a wingspan of approximately 27 mm, known from limited records in the southeastern United States. Adults are active during the first half of the year, with flight records spanning February through June.
Ptychoglene
Ptychoglene is a genus of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Lithosiini, within the family Erebidae. The genus was erected by Felder in 1874 and contains eight described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Members of this genus are characterized by their often striking red or reddish coloration, reflected in species epithets such as 'coccinea' (scarlet), 'erythrophora' (red-bearing), and 'sanguineola' (blood-red). The genus is part of the diverse tiger moth assemblage, though specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented.
Purius superpulverea
Purius superpulverea is a moth species in the family Erebidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1925. It occurs in Mexico and southern Texas. Adults are active during March, October, and November. The species was originally described under the basionym Spodarctia superpulverea.
Pygarctia abdominalis
Yellow-edged Pygarctia, Orange-bodied Pygarctia, Yellow-edged Tussock Moth
Pygarctia abdominalis is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1871. It is found in the southeastern and south-central United States. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with females notably larger than males. Adults are active primarily during spring and summer months.
Pygarctia neomexicana
Pygarctia neomexicana is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by William Barnes in 1904. The species occurs in the southwestern United States, with adult flight activity recorded from April through September.
Pygarctia pterygostigma
Pygarctia pterygostigma is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1909. It occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with a wingspan of approximately 28 mm. Adults are active during summer months. As a member of the genus Pygarctia, it belongs to a group known for acoustic aposematism—emitting sound signals to warn bat predators of chemical defenses.
Pygoctenucha pyrrhoura
Pygoctenucha pyrrhoura is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1881. It belongs to the subfamily Arctiinae (tiger moths) and tribe Lithosiini. The species is known from a restricted distribution in the south-central United States.
Pyrrharctia
woolly bear moth
Pyrrharctia is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, described by Packard in 1864. The genus contains two described species found in North and Central America. The best-known species, Pyrrharctia isabella, produces the familiar banded woolly bear caterpillar, widely recognized for its black and orange banded appearance and cultural association with winter weather prediction. The genus is notable for the freeze-tolerance adaptations of its larvae, which overwinter as caterpillars using cryoprotectant compounds to survive subfreezing temperatures.
Redectis pygmaea
Pygmy Redectis Moth, pygmy redectis
Redectis pygmaea, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878, is a small litter moth in the family Erebidae. It is one of the smallest members of its genus, with a wingspan of approximately 14 mm. The species is found in the eastern and south-central United States, where adults are active during summer months. It belongs to the subfamily Herminiinae, a group commonly known as litter moths due to their association with decaying plant material.
Rejectaria
Rejectaria is a genus of litter moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Herminiinae. These moths are characterized by their association with leaf litter and detritus habitats. The genus was established by Guenée in 1854 and contains multiple species distributed primarily in the Americas. One documented species, Rejectaria albisinuata, occurs in southeastern Arizona.
Renia discoloralis
Discolored Renia Moth
Renia discoloralis is a litter moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Achille Guenée in 1854. It occurs in eastern North America from Missouri to southern New England, southward to at least North Carolina. The species has a single annual generation with adults active in mid-summer. Larvae are detritivores that feed on dead leaf material.
Rivulinae
Rivulinae is a subfamily of moths in the family Erebidae, established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1895. The subfamily is characterized by distinctive larval and adult morphological features: caterpillars possess long, barbed hairs and retain full prolegs on abdominal segments 3 through 6, while adults exhibit a unique microsculpturing proboscis. Taxonomic placement has been revised; Rivulinae was formerly classified within Hypeninae or Noctuidae but is now retained in Erebidae based on phylogenetic studies. The subfamily includes approximately 8 recognized genera, with members distributed across multiple continents.
Rusicada
Rusicada is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae. The genus was established by Walker in 1858 and has been subject to taxonomic revision, with species previously placed in the genus Anomis now recognized as belonging to Rusicada. Members of this genus are known as fruit-piercing moths, with adults capable of piercing fruit skins to feed on juices. The genus contains multiple species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions.
Rusicada privata
Hibiscus Leaf Caterpillar Moth
Rusicada privata is a moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the hibiscus-leaf caterpillar moth. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1865. It occurs in East Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan) and has been recorded in North America, particularly the northeastern United States. The specific epithet and common name suggest an association with hibiscus plants.
Scolecocampa
Scolecocampa is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, established by Achille Guenée in 1852. The genus was previously classified in the subfamily Calpinae of Noctuidae before reclassification to Erebidae. The genus contains at least seven described species distributed in the Americas. Species-level biology remains poorly documented for most members.
Scolecocampa atriluna
Scolecocampa atriluna is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae, described by Smith in 1903. It is recorded from North America and is assigned Hodges number 8515 in the North American moth numbering system. The species belongs to the subfamily Calpinae, a group of moths that includes many fruit-piercing and sap-feeding species.
Scoliopterygini
Scoliopterygini is a tribe of moths within the family Erebidae. The tribe comprises two genera: Ossonoba and Scoliopteryx. Members of this tribe are part of the diverse Erebidae family, which includes many nocturnal moth species.
Selenisa
Selenisa is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae. The genus was established by Hayward in 1967 and contains approximately 12 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. One species, Selenisa sueroides, has been studied for its associated parasitoid fauna.
Sigela
False Pug Moths
Sigela is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, commonly known as False Pug Moths. The genus was erected by George Duryea Hulst in 1896 and was previously classified in the subfamily Acontiinae of the family Noctuidae. It currently contains approximately 16 described species distributed across North, Central, and South America, with notable diversity in Florida and Panama.
Sigela brauneata
Brown False Pug
Sigela brauneata is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, described by Louis W. Swett in 1913. It is commonly known as the Brown False Pug. The species is found in North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 8432. It belongs to the subfamily Scolecocampinae within the diverse erebid moth fauna.
Sigela eoides
Tawny False Pug Moth, youthful sigela moth
Sigela eoides is a small moth species in the family Erebidae, first described in 1913 by Barnes and McDunnough. It is known by two common names: the Tawny False Pug Moth and the youthful sigela moth. The species occurs in North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 8435. It belongs to the subfamily Scolecocampinae, a group of relatively understudied moths.
Sigela minuta
Sigela minuta is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Scolecocampinae, described by Troubridge in 2020. The specific epithet 'minuta' suggests small size. As a recently described species, published knowledge about its biology and ecology remains limited. It belongs to a genus of noctuoid moths whose members are typically nocturnal and attracted to light sources.
Sigela n-sp-one
Sigela n-sp-one is an undescribed species within the genus Sigela, a group of moths in the family Erebidae (formerly Noctuidae). As a provisional designation, this taxon represents a distinct lineage recognized by lepidopterists but awaiting formal description and naming. Members of Sigela are generally small to medium-sized moths with characteristic wing patterns. The specific epithet "n-sp-one" indicates this is the first new species under consideration in this genus.
Sigela rosea
Sigela rosea is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Scolecocampinae, described by James Troubridge in 2020. It is placed in the genus Sigela, a group of moths within the diverse Noctuoidea superfamily. As a recently described species, detailed information about its biology and ecology remains limited. The specific epithet 'rosea' likely refers to pink or rose coloration in the adult moth.
Spargaloma sexpunctata
Six-spotted Gray
A medium-sized moth with distinctive wing patterning, occurring across North America from coast to coast. The common name refers to six dark spots on the forewings. Adults are active from spring through summer, with larvae feeding on various herbaceous plants.
Spilosoma
tiger moths, ermine moths
Spilosoma is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, established by John Curtis in 1825. The genus is taxonomically heterogeneous and widely acknowledged to require systematic revision, with many species likely needing reclassification into separate genera. Members are commonly known as tiger moths or ermine moths, with larvae often called 'woolly bears' due to their dense, colorful setae. The genus has a global distribution with particular diversity in tropical and temperate regions. Several species are significant agricultural pests, notably Spilosoma obliqua (Bihar hairy caterpillar) in South Asia, which causes severe defoliation of jute, legumes, and other crops.
Spilosoma congrua
Agreeable Tiger Moth
Spilosoma congrua, commonly known as the agreeable tiger moth, is a white tiger moth species native to North America. Adults are distinguished from similar species by their pronounced black eyes, white abdomen, and orange "bib" or collar. The species tents its wings when at rest, a characteristic shared with its congener the Virginia tiger moth. It is one of three common white tiger moth species in the United States.
Spilosoma latipennis
Pink-legged Tiger Moth, Red-legged Diacrisia
Spilosoma latipennis, commonly known as the pink-legged tiger moth or red-legged diacrisia, is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae described by Richard Harper Stretch in 1872. It occurs across eastern North America from Georgia north to Maine and west to Iowa and Kansas. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 38 mm and are active from April through September. The larvae feed on a variety of plants including ash, dandelion, impatiens, and plantain.
Spilosoma vestalis
Vestal tiger-moth, Vestal Tiger Moth
Spilosoma vestalis, the Vestal tiger-moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. Described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864, it occurs along the Pacific coast of western North America. Adults are active from May to June, with forewing lengths of 19–26 mm. The larvae feed on various woody and herbaceous plants.
Spilosomina
Spilosomina is a subtribe of tiger moths within the tribe Arctiini of the family Erebidae. Members are commonly known as tiger moths and often exhibit aposematic coloration. The subtribe was formerly classified as the tribe Spilosomini in the family Arctiidae before taxonomic revision. It contains numerous genera, though the complete list remains unresolved due to unassigned arctiine genera.
Syntomeida ipomoeae
Yellow-banded Wasp Moth, Orange-banded Wasp Moth
Syntomeida ipomoeae is a wasp-mimicking moth in the subfamily Arctiinae, described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839. The species exhibits aposematic coloration and is known for its diurnal activity pattern, unusual among moths. Its common names derive from the distinctive yellow or orange banding on the body. The species has a restricted distribution in the southeastern United States.
Toxocampinae
Toxocampinae is a subfamily of moths within the family Erebidae, superfamily Noctuoidea. The subfamily was previously classified as the tribe Toxocampini within the former subfamily Catocalinae, but phylogenetic analysis supports its recognition as a distinct subfamily outside the Erebinae (formerly Catocalinae). Males possess a primitive form of genital claspers resembling those found in some Noctuidae subfamilies. The subfamily includes approximately 200 species across six genera, with the genus Lygephila being among the most studied.
Toxonprucha
cruel toxonprucha moth, spotted toxonprucha moth, bird toxonprucha
Toxonprucha is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae, containing approximately 13 described species. The genus was established by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1890. Species are distributed across the southwestern United States (primarily Arizona), Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Several species have received common names, including the 'cruel toxonprucha moth' (T. crudelis), 'spotted toxonprucha moth' (T. pardalis), and 'bird toxonprucha' (T. volucris).
Toxonprucha excavata
Toxonprucha excavata is a moth species in the family Erebidae, described by Francis Walker in 1865. The species was originally described under the basionym Homoptera excavata before being transferred to the genus Toxonprucha. It belongs to the subfamily Erebinae, a diverse group of primarily nocturnal moths commonly known as underwings or erebid moths. The genus Toxonprucha contains multiple species distributed across North America.
Toxonprucha n-sp-two
Toxonprucha n-sp-two is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Herminiinae. The genus Toxonprucha comprises small to medium-sized moths primarily distributed in the Americas. This species is currently known from limited specimen records and has not been formally described with a binomial epithet.
Toxonprucha pardalis
Spotted Toxonprucha
Toxonprucha pardalis, commonly known as the spotted toxonprucha, is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae. The species was originally described as Yrias pardalis by Smith in 1908 and later transferred to the genus Toxonprucha. It is distributed across North America and belongs to the subfamily Erebinae, a diverse group of nocturnal moths. The genus name Toxonprucha derives from Greek roots, while the specific epithet pardalis refers to the spotted or leopard-like pattern typical of this species.
Toxonprucha strigalis
Toxonprucha strigalis is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Smith in 1903. Originally placed in the genus Yrias, it was later transferred to Toxonprucha. It occurs in North America. The species is assigned Hodges number 8671 in the MONA (Moths of North America) system.
Tripudia flavofasciata-complex
Tripudia flavofasciata-complex comprises a group of closely related moth species within the genus Tripudia, family Noctuidae (subfamily Erebidae). These small nocturnal moths are characterized by distinctive yellow and dark banding patterns on the forewings. The complex status indicates that species boundaries within this group remain taxonomically unresolved, with multiple cryptic or poorly differentiated species currently grouped under this designation. Members occur in North America and are part of the diverse noctuid fauna of the region.
Trocodima fuscipes
Trocodima fuscipes is a small moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. The species is known only from the US state of Arizona. Adults have a wingspan of 18–22 mm and have been recorded flying in April and July. It is a poorly documented species with limited available information on its biology.
Tyrissa
Tyrissa is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae, erected by Francis Walker in 1866. The genus contains approximately 12 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region, with some species extending into the southern United States (Florida). Species have been recorded from Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Paraguay, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Florida. The genus is taxonomically placed within the superfamily Noctuoidea.
Virbia aurantiaca
orange holomelina, Orange Virbia Moth
Virbia aurantiaca is a small moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the orange holomelina or Orange Virbia Moth. It is recognized by its bright orange coloration and relatively small size, with forewings measuring approximately 10 mm in males and 9.7 mm in females. The species has a broad distribution across North America, ranging from southern Canada through the eastern and central United States to Mexico. Larvae have been successfully reared on dandelion (Taraxacum) and plantain (Plantago) species.
Virbia ferruginosa
rusty holomelina, Rusty Virbia Moth
Virbia ferruginosa, commonly known as the rusty holomelina or rusty virbia moth, is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1854. The species has a broad distribution across northern North America, with one generation per year and adults active in July.