Bug FAQIntent Zale Moth
Zale intenta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Intent Zale
Source: Wikipedia
Adults have forewings about 20 mm long, with males slightly smaller than females. They live across eastern North America from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest and down to the southeastern United States. Caterpillars eat various Prunus species such as black cherry and beach plum, which can harm those plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length is roughly 19.7 mm in males and 20.1 mm in females.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on several Prunus trees, including black cherry, beach plum and other cherries.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from March through June, depending on location and altitude.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It occurs in North America from Nova Scotia west to Wisconsin and Missouri and south to Georgia.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Massachusetts, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Vermont.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How large are these moths?
Forewings measure about 20 mm, with males a little shorter than females.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see them flying?
They are active from early spring to early summer, roughly March to June.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on Prunus species such as black cherry and beach plum.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
Its range covers eastern Canada and the United States from Nova Scotia west to the Midwest and down to Georgia.
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 acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zale_intenta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.