Bug FAQDiscolored Renia Moth
Renia discoloralis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Discolored Renia
The discolored renia moth has a wingspan of about 35 to 45 mm. Adults fly in July and August and there is one generation each year. The caterpillars eat dead leaves and other detritus.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Renia discoloralis belongs to the litter moth group in the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 35 to 45 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in the United States from Missouri eastward to southern New England and south to at least North Carolina, possibly reaching Florida and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on detritus such as dead leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range is within the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Some similar moths may be unnamed relatives.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia.
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 do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on dead leaves and other plant detritus.
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/Renia_discoloralis
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.