Bug FAQDelicate Cycnia Moth
Cycnia tenera · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Dogbane Tiger Moth, Delicate Cycnia
The delicate Cycnia moth has a wingspan of about 30 to 40 mm and white wings with a buttery yellow front-edge margin; its legs are black and its body is yellow with a line of black spots. The species produces several generations each year; eggs are laid in clusters of 50 to 100, larvae feed in small groups early on, and caterpillars can be seen from June through November.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 30 to 40 mm (about 1.2 to 1.6 in).
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars commonly feed on dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), which contains toxic cardenolides, and they also use milkweed (Asclepias) where available.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Multiple generations occur each year, so caterpillars may be present from June to November.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Caterpillars can be found from June through November due to several yearly generations.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same area: southern British Columbia to Nova Scotia, extending south to Arizona and Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 49 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois.
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
What plants do delicate Cycnia moth caterpillars eat?
They mainly feed on dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) and sometimes on milkweed (Asclepias).
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see the caterpillars?
Caterpillars are present from June to November, with several generations per year.
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/Cycnia_tenera
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.