Bug FAQBilobed Looper Moth
Megalographa biloba · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Bilobed Looper, Stephen's Gem, Stephens' Gem
Source: Wikipedia
The adult moth has a wingspan of about 38 to 44 mm. It lives from the southern United States through Central and South America down to Argentina. It may become a pest on lettuce crops.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Stephens' gem, also called the bilobed looper, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure 38 to 44 mm across the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It is occasionally regarded as a pest on lettuce grown in gardens.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The species is widely found from the southern U.S. down through Central America to Argentina.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars sometimes feed on cultivated lettuce, making them a crop pest.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the southern United States and extends through Central and South America to Argentina.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 48 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, New Mexico.
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
Does the bilobed looper damage lettuce?
Yes, its larvae can feed on cultivated lettuce and become a pest.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the bilobed looper found?
It occurs from the southern United States through Central America to Argentina.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalographa_biloba
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.