Bug FAQBronzy Owlet
Macrochilo orciferalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Bronzy Macrochilo Moth
The caterpillars feed on blueberry and dead grass, and the moth’s wingspan is about 24 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures roughly 24 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in North America, from Wisconsin east to Nova Scotia and south to Florida and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae can be reared on blueberry and on dead grass.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active during the months of June, July, and August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same area of North America, from Wisconsin to Nova Scotia and down to Florida and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 35 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin, New York, Connecticut, Maryland.
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
Questions people ask
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/Macrochilo_orciferalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.