Bug FAQFlorida Fern Moth
Callopistria floridensis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Florida Callopistria Moth, Florida Fern Caterpillar
Source: Wikipedia
The Florida fern moth has a wingspan of about 29 mm (1.1 in). It lives across much of North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and down to Ecuador. Its caterpillars feed on ferns such as Boston fern and Chinese brake fern.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Callopistria floridensis is a moth in the Noctuidae family, commonly called the Florida fern moth.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan of roughly 29 mm (1.1 in).
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
They sometimes become pests in greenhouse environments.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout many U.S. states, parts of Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and into South America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae eat a variety of ferns, including Nephrolepis exaltata and Pteris vittata.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active throughout the year in Florida and other tropical areas.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
In warm regions they can be seen flying year-round.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the United States and Canada, extending south through the Caribbean and into Central and South America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 42 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Texas, Alabama, Ohio, North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the caterpillars eat?
The caterpillars feed on ferns such as Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) and Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata).
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/Callopistria_floridensis
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.