Bug FAQErnestine's Moth
Phytometra ernestinana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Ernestine's phytometra
The moth’s wingspan is about 18 mm. It occurs across many U.S. states, in Ontario, and also on Cuba. Adults can be seen flying throughout the year in Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan is roughly 18 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing year-round in Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Found in numerous U.S. states, in Ontario, and on Cuba.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 21 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Nebraska, Louisiana.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
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 acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytometra_ernestinana
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.