Noctuid
Guides
Plusiodonta compressipalpis
Moonseed Moth
Plusiodonta compressipalpis, commonly known as the moonseed moth, is a small nocturnal moth in the family Erebidae. The species was described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It occurs across eastern North America with two generations per year in most of its range. The common name reflects its larval association with moonseed vines (Menispermum species).
Poecilanthrax californicus
Poecilanthrax californicus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Cole in 1917. As a member of the genus Poecilanthrax, it belongs to a strictly North American group of bee flies whose larvae develop as parasites inside caterpillars of various cutworms and armyworms (family Noctuidae). The species epithet 'californicus' suggests a primary association with California, though specific details about its biology and distribution remain limited in available sources.
Polia purpurissata
Purple Arches Moth, Purple Arches
Polia purpurissata, commonly known as the purple arches moth, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was first described by Grote in 1864 and is found in North America. The species is assigned Hodges number 10280 in the North American moth classification system. It belongs to the genus Polia, which comprises numerous noctuid moth species.
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.
Properigea continens
Tricolored Properigea
Properigea continens is a noctuid moth commonly known as the Tricolored Properigea. It belongs to the cutworm or dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. The species was described by Henry Edwards in 1885 and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9590. It is found in North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Properigea tapeta
cutworm moth, dart moth
Properigea tapeta is a species of noctuid moth described by Smith in 1900. It belongs to the cutworm or dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. The species has been assigned MONA Hodges number 9592 and is known to occur in North America. It is represented by over 100 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is not exceptionally rare.
Protogygia lagena
lagena dart
Protogygia lagena, commonly known as the lagena dart, is a noctuid moth species described by Grote in 1875. It belongs to the cutworm or dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. The species is native to North America.
Protogygia polingi
Protogygia polingi is a noctuid moth species described by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1922. It is placed in the subfamily Noctuinae, a group commonly known as cutworms or dart moths. The species is native to North America and has been documented through 42 iNaturalist observations. Its basionym, Rhizagrotis polingi, reflects a previous generic placement that was later revised to Protogygia.
Protoperigea anotha
kaslo rustic
Protoperigea anotha, known as the kaslo rustic, is a species of cutworm moth in the family Noctuidae. It was described by Dyar in 1904 and is native to North America. The species is assigned Hodges number 9642 in the North American moth numbering system. It belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae, a diverse group of ground-dwelling moths commonly referred to as owlet moths.
Proxenus mindara
Rough-skinned Cutworm Moth
Proxenus mindara, known as the rough-skinned cutworm moth, is a noctuid moth species described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1913. It belongs to the cutworm or dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. The species is found in North America and has been documented at blacklighting events in California. Its MONA or Hodges number is 9648.
Pseudorthodes vecors
Small Brown Quaker
Pseudorthodes vecors, known as the Small Brown Quaker, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852 under the basionym Orthodes vecors. The species is distributed across North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States (Vermont). It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 10578.
Rhizagrotis modesta
Rhizagrotis modesta is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1911. The species was originally described under the genus Prochloridea before being transferred to Rhizagrotis. It belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae, one of the largest and most diverse groups within Noctuidae. The genus Rhizagrotis contains relatively few described species, and R. modesta remains poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Schinia crenilinea
creniline flower moth
Schinia crenilinea, the creniline flower moth, is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of approximately 24 mm. The species is restricted to the south-central United States, occurring in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Adults are active during late spring and summer. Like other members of the genus Schinia, it is likely associated with specific host plants for larval development, though detailed life history information remains limited.
Schinia intermontana
Schinia intermontana is a noctuid moth described by Hardwick in 1958. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Schinia villosa but has since been elevated to full species status. The species is distributed across the interior western United States and southwestern Canada. Larvae feed on Erigeron species.
Schinia mcfarlandi
Schinia mcfarlandi is a noctuid moth described by Opler in 2004. It belongs to the genus Schinia, a diverse group of flower moths known for their colorful appearance and diurnal activity. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Schinia tertia
Third Flower Moth
Schinia tertia is a small noctuid moth native to western North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 25 mm and are active from April to October in two generations per year. The species is notable for its specialized larval diet on flowering plants in three genera: Ericameria, Isocoma pluriflora, and Liatris.
Spragueia jaguaralis
Jaguar Moth
Spragueia jaguaralis is a small noctuid moth described by George Hampson in 1910. It belongs to the bird dropping moth group, a guild of species whose cryptic coloration resembles avian feces. The species occurs in North America and is attracted to artificial lights.
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.
Sympistis amenthes
Sympistis amenthes is a noctuid moth described in 2008, known from a restricted range in the western United States. It occurs at moderate elevations on the east slope of the Cascade Range and adjacent areas. The species has a relatively small wingspan and a brief adult flight period in early autumn. It is one of many recently described species in the taxonomically complex genus Sympistis.
Sympistis dinalda
Netted Sallow
Sympistis dinalda is a noctuid moth native to boreal and subboreal Canada. It was described in 1908 and underwent taxonomic revision in 2008, when it was elevated from subspecies status and transferred to the genus Sympistis. The species has a wingspan of 30–35 mm. It is known by the common name Netted Sallow.
Sympistis hayesi
A small noctuid moth of the Rocky Mountain region, described by Grote in 1873. The species is documented from limited observations and appears to have a restricted distribution in western North America. Wingspan approximately 30 mm.
Sympistis heliophila
Sympistis heliophila is a noctuid moth (owlet moth) with a Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, northern Asia, and North America. The species name 'heliophila' (sun-loving) suggests an association with open, sunny habitats. It belongs to the diverse genus Sympistis, which contains numerous species often difficult to distinguish without detailed examination.
Sympistis lachrymosa
A small noctuid moth described in 2008 by James T. Troubridge. It is known from a restricted range in the southwestern United States and has a brief adult flight period in autumn. The species epithet "lachrymosa" (tearful) may allude to markings or coloration on the wings.
Sympistis lapponica
Sympistis lapponica is a small noctuid moth first described by Thunberg in 1791. It occurs across boreal and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Fennoscandia, northern Russia, Asia, and northern North America. The species is notable for its two-year life cycle, overwintering first as an egg and again as a pupa.
Syngrapha diasema
Dwarf Birch Looper
Syngrapha diasema is a noctuid moth distributed across Arctic and subarctic regions of Eurasia and North America. First described by Boisduval in 1829, it is commonly known as the Dwarf Birch Looper. The species has a wingspan of 30–33 mm and completes one generation per year.
Syngrapha surena
Surena Looper Moth
Syngrapha surena, known as the Surena Looper Moth, is a North American noctuid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1882. The species belongs to the subfamily Plusiinae, which includes the 'looper' or 'owlet' moths characterized by their distinctive wing patterns and reduced forelegs. It is a rarely encountered species with limited observational records, suggesting either genuine rarity or cryptic habits that limit detection.
Tarache terminimaculata
Curve-lined Bird-dropping Moth
Tarache terminimaculata is a noctuid moth species described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It belongs to the subfamily Acontiinae, a group commonly known as bird-dropping moths due to their cryptic appearance resembling avian feces. The species is found in North America and has been assigned Hodges number 9145.
Trichocerapoda
Trichocerapoda is a genus of owlet moths (Noctuidae) established by Benjamin in 1932. The genus contains five described species distributed in western North America, with records from California and adjacent regions. Two species were described in 2006, indicating ongoing taxonomic refinement. The genus belongs to the tribe Eriopygini within the subfamily Noctuinae.
Trichocerapoda strigata
Trichocerapoda strigata is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, first described by Smith in 1891. It belongs to the tribe Eriopygini within the subfamily Noctuinae. The species is documented from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in available sources.
Tricholita knudsoni
Tricholita knudsoni is a species of owlet moth described in 2009 from western Texas. It is a relatively small noctuid with a wingspan of 33–35 mm. The species is known from a restricted geographic range in the Trans-Pecos region, with all documented records from light trap collections between late August and late October. It was described by Crabo and Lafontaine during their revision of related noctuid genera.
Ulolonche orbiculata
Orbiculate Quaker
Ulolonche orbiculata, commonly known as the Orbiculate Quaker, is a noctuid moth species described by Smith in 1891. It belongs to the cutworm or dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. The species is documented across North America with confirmed records in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Xestia fabulosa
Fabulous Dart
Xestia fabulosa is a species of dart moth in the family Noctuidae, commonly known as the Fabulous Dart. It was described by Ferguson in 1965. The species belongs to a large genus of cutworm moths distributed across northern temperate regions.
Xylena cineritia
Gray Swordgrass Moth
Xylena cineritia, commonly known as the gray swordgrass moth, is a noctuid moth species distributed across northern North America. The species belongs to the dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. It is known to feed on a diverse range of woody and herbaceous plants. The species is recognized by Hodges number 9876 in North American moth classification systems.
Zale duplicata
Pine False Looper Moth, Pine False Looper, Banded Similar-wing, Grey Similar-wing
Zale duplicata is a noctuid moth native to North American coniferous woodlands. Adults have a wingspan of 34–36 mm and are active from late May through June, with a single annual generation. The species was first described by Charles J. S. Bethune in 1865 and occurs across a broad geographic range from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, extending south to Georgia and Texas.
Zale peruncta
Zale peruncta is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Achille Guenée in 1852 based on a specimen from the original basionym Homoptera peruncta. The species belongs to the genus Zale, a diverse group of nocturnal moths commonly known as zale moths or false underwing moths. Two subspecies are recognized: Zale peruncta peruncta and Zale peruncta incipiens. The species is assigned Hodges number 8684.1 in the North American moth classification system.
Zale sabena
Zale sabena is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae. It was described by Schaus in 1901, originally placed in the genus Homoptera before being transferred to Zale. The species occurs in North America and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 8688. Like other members of genus Zale, it is a nocturnal moth with larvae that feed on woody plants.
Zale submediana
Gray Spring Zale Moth, Gray Spring Zale
Zale submediana, commonly known as the Gray Spring Zale Moth, is a nocturnal moth in the family Erebidae. It was first described by Embrik Strand in 1917. The species exhibits a single generation per year across most of its range and has been designated as a species of special concern in Connecticut, where it is believed to be extirpated.