Bug FAQCommon Fungus Moth
Metalectra discalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The common fungus moth has a wingspan of about 20 to 29 mm. It lives across much of North America, from the Great Lakes region eastward to Quebec and Maine, south to Florida, and west to Texas and Missouri. Its larvae feed on bracket fungi and probably on other persistent fungi.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure 20 to 29 mm across the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
You can find this moth throughout North America, from Wisconsin and Ontario up north to Quebec and Maine, down to Florida, and west to Texas and Missouri.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars eat bracket fungi and likely other long-lasting fungi as well.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
In warm regions they are on the wing May-September; in cooler areas they appear June-August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to North America, ranging from the upper Midwest and eastern Canada down to the Gulf Coast and west to the central southern states.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 37 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, North Carolina, 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
Questions people ask
When are common fungus moths active?
They are active from May to September in the southern part of their range and from June to August farther north.
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/Metalectra_discalis
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.