Bug FAQBent-winged Owlet
Bleptina caradrinalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Bent-winged Owlet Moth
The bent-winged owlet has a wingspan of about 22 to 32 mm. Adults fly from June through August, depending on where they live. It occurs across North America from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and south to Arizona, and its range extends into Brazil and the Antilles.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan measures between 22 and 32 mm (0.87 to 1.26 in).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout North America, from the Atlantic provinces to the Pacific coast and down to the southwestern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars eat the leaves of barberry, clover and hickory.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from June to August, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes Canada and the United States, extending further south into Brazil and the Caribbean islands.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 46 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Alabama.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult bent-winged owlets?
Adults are active from June through August, depending on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
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/Bleptina_caradrinalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.