Bug FAQForsebia Moth
Forsebia perlaeta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The forewings measure about 14 to 16 mm long. It lives in the southwestern United States, from southern California and Nevada east to western Texas and Oklahoma. Caterpillars eat woody legumes such as species of Parkinsonia. Adults are on the wing from late February through October.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Forsebia cinis belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length ranges from 14 to 16 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is recorded in southern California, southern Nevada, western Texas and Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults fly from late February to October.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans late February through October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range is in North America, specifically the southwestern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas.
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
When are adult Forsebia moths active?
Adults are on the wing from late February through October.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on woody legumes such as Parkinsonia species.
Source: Wikipedia
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/Forsebia_cinis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.