Bug FAQDark Phalaenostola Moth
Phalaenostola eumelusalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Dark Phalaenostola
The dark phalaenostola moth (Philaenostola eumelusalis) belongs to the family Erebidae and has a wingspan of about 25 mm. It lives across much of North America, from eastern Canada and the northern plains down to the southeastern United States. Adults fly from May through August and there are typically two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Scientific name is Phalaenostola eumelusalis, commonly called the punctuated owlet or dark phalaenostola.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan is roughly 25 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae have been reared on dead grass.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There are usually two generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from May to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Native to North America, including parts of Canada and the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is the same species referred to as the punctuated owlet or dark phalaenostola.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New York, Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin.
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
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult dark phalaenostola moths?
Adults are active from May through August.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
Typically two generations occur annually.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
It occurs across much of North America, from eastern Canada and the northern plains down to the southeastern United States, including Saskatchewan.
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/Phalaenostola_eumelusalis
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.