Bug FAQInkblot Palpita Moth
Palpita illibalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Inkblot Palpita
The inkblot palpita moth (Palpita illibalis) belongs to the family Crambidae and has a wingspan of about 25 mm. Adults are seen from March through October, most often between June and August, and they occur in many eastern U.S. states.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Palpita illibalis is a moth in the family Crambidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan is about 25 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 14 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arkansas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult inkblot palpita moths?
Adults are active from March through October, especially June to August.
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/Palpita_illibalis
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.