Bug FAQGnophaela discreta
Gnophaela discreta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The moth has a wingspan of about 38 mm. It occurs in Mexico, Arizona and California. Its caterpillars feed on plants of the genus Mertensia.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan is roughly 38 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat Mertensia species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Found in Mexico, Arizona and California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, New Mexico, California, Colorado.
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
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/Gnophaela_discreta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.