Black Zale Moth

Zale undularis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae

Also called: Black Zale

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.

The black zale moth has a wingspan of about 5 cm (2 inches). Its body and wings are a glossy very dark brown, almost black, with brown thread-like antennae.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

The forewings show a series of indented black lines, the outermost one being strong and crossing the wing near the edge.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

The wingspan measures roughly 5 cm (about 2 inches).

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Its native range includes the eastern United States and southern Ontario.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it is found in the US

Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, New Jersey, Wisconsin.

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Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.

Source: GBIF

Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist

Months it is reported in the US

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Source: GBIF

More photos

Black Zale Moth photo 2 — Photo: CatherineK, CC BY-SA

Black Zale Moth photo 3 — Photo: Teá Montagna, CC BY

Black Zale Moth photo 4 — Photo: Teá Montagna, CC BY

Black Zale Moth photo 5 — Photo: Hippytiger, CC BY

Questions people ask

What does the black zale moth look like?

It has a glossy very dark brown (almost black) body and wings, brown thread-like antennae, and the forewings bear a series of indented black lines, with a prominent outer line near the wing edge.

Source: Wikipedia

How big is the black zale moth?

Its wingspan is about 5 cm, or roughly 2 inches.

Source: Wikipedia