Bug FAQEuropean Pepper Moth
Duponchelia fovealis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Crambid moth, Pepper moth
Source: Wikipedia
Adults have a wingspan of about 20 mm. The moth is on the wing from May to June, depending on where it lives.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults fly during May and June, with timing varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan is roughly 20 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It is a pest of peppers, begonias and other ornamental plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is native to the Mediterranean basin and the Canary Islands.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The moth is active as an adult from May to June, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are seen in the spring-early summer months, typically May-June.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its original range includes the Mediterranean area and the Canary Islands.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 31 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Texas, New York, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts, Alabama.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in North America; introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants does the European Pepper Moth damage?
Its larvae feed on many ornamental flowers and field crops, including peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, roses and various herbs.
Source: Wikipedia
When are European Pepper Moths active?
Adults are on the wing from May to June, though the exact timing depends on the location.
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/Duponchelia_fovealis
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 2026-10-22.