Bug FAQDistinct Quaker
Achatia distincta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Distinct Quaker Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The distinct quaker moth has a wingspan of about 30 to 37 mm. Adults fly from late March to early May and there is one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Achatia distincta, called the distinct quaker, belongs to the moth family Noctuidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 30 to 37 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives across most of the United States and the southeastern part of Canada, from Quebec to Manitoba.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from late March to early May, producing one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults appear from late March through early May.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to the United States and southeastern Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 41 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Alabama, Ohio, Vermont, Kansas.
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 can I see adult distinct quaker moths?
Adults are active from late March to early May.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achatia_distincta
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.