Bug FAQDogbane Saucrobotys Moth
Saucrobotys futilalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Dogbane Saucrobotys
The forewings measure about 14 to 16 mm in length. Adults fly from May through July. The caterpillars feed on dogbane (Apocynum) and milkweed (Asclepias) plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Saucrobotys futilalis, known as the dogbane saucrobotys moth, belongs to the Crambidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length ranges from 14 to 16 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs across North America, from the northeastern region to British Columbia and southward to Texas and California.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on species of Apocynum, including Apocynum cannabinum, and on Asclepias species such as Asclepias tuberosa.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May to July.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period for adults runs from May through July.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes much of North America, spanning the northeast to the west coast and down to the southern states.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 48 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on dogbane (Apocynum) and milkweed (Asclepias) species.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saucrobotys_futilalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.