Bug FAQGordonia Darkwing
Gondysia similis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Source: Wikipedia
The Gordonia darkwing moth has a wingspan of about 37 mm. It lives in the southeastern United States and produces three or more generations each year, with adults on the wing from April to September.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Gordonia darkwing is a moth in the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures about 37 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in the United States from North Carolina through Mississippi to Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars eat the leaves of the tree Gordonia lasianthus.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In North Carolina there are three or more generations each year, with adults flying from April to September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on wing from April through September in North Carolina, with at least three generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the United States, ranging from North Carolina to Mississippi and Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 7 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana.
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 does the Gordonia darkwing damage?
Its larvae feed on Gordonia lasianthus, causing damage to that tree.
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/Gondysia_similis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.