Bug FAQHahncappsia marculenta
Hahncappsia marculenta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Hahncappsia marculenta is a small moth with pale yellow forewings marked in muddy-yellow and paler yellow hindwings. Males have a wingspan of about 18 to 24 mm and females 21 to 26 mm. It lives across eastern North America, east of the Rocky Mountains, and adults fly from May through September.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are pale yellow with muddy-yellow markings, while the hindwings are a lighter yellow.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males measure 18 to 24 mm across the wings, and females are slightly larger at 21 to 26 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout North America east of the Rocky Mountains.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on plants such as Ambrosia trifida and species of Solidago.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May to September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans the late spring through early fall (May-September).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is North America, primarily east of the Rockies.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 23 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Michigan, Arizona, Virginia, New York.
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 can I see adult Hahncappsia marculenta?
Adults are active from May through September.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
The larvae feed on Ambrosia trifida and various Solidago species.
Source: Wikipedia
How large are these moths?
Males have a wingspan of 18 to 24 mm; females are 21 to 26 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this species found?
It is widespread across North America east of the Rocky Mountains.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalis
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hahncappsia_marculenta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.