Bug FAQAmbiguous Moth
Lascoria ambigualis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The ambiguous moth has a wingspan of about 21 to 25 mm and its forewings are brown, purple-tinged, or gray with a dark straight band; males have a notch and a black spot on the wing edge that females lack. Larvae feed on chrysanthemum, aster, blackberry, Verbesina, and can be raised on dead leaves; adults fly from April to September, with two generations in Connecticut and several broods in Missouri.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Forewings are brown, purple-tinged, or gray with a dark straight band; males have a notch and a black spot at the wing edge, which females lack.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 21 to 25 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Commonly found in shrubby fields, woodlands, and forests, but can occupy many habitats.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat chrysanthemum, aster, blackberry, Verbesina, and can be raised on dead leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Occurs in the United States from Wisconsin east to Maine and south to Florida and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 39 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Alabama, Virginia, Vermont, New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Same family (Erebidae)
Spongy MothLymantria disparDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cuneaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown-tail MothEuproctis chrysorrhoeaCan irritate skin
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabella
Virginian Tiger MothSpilosoma virginicaCan irritate skin
Salt Marsh MothEstigmene acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascoria_ambigualis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.