Bug FAQExposed Bird Dropping Moth
Acontia aprica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The exposed bird dropping moth has a wingspan of about 15 to 29 mm. It lives in gardens, fields and open areas across much of North America, from Ontario and Quebec down to Florida and west to Arizona, reaching north to Kansas and Iowa. Adults are on the wing from March through September in the southern part of its range, with a shorter season farther north.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan ranges between 15 and 29 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in gardens, fields and other open habitats.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on the plant Alcea rosea.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight season runs March-September in southern areas and is shorter farther north.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its North American range extends from Ontario and Quebec south to Florida, west to Arizona, and north to Kansas and Iowa.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is a member of the Noctuidae family and is also known as Tarache aprica.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
Questions people ask
When are exposed bird dropping moths active?
Adults fly from March through September in the southern part of their range, with a shorter period farther north.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find this moth?
Look for them in gardens, fields and open areas across much of North America, from eastern Canada down to the southern United States and west to Arizona.
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/Tarache_aprica
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.