Bug FAQJoyful Virbia Moth
Virbia laeta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Joyful Holomelina Moth
The joyful Virbia moth (Virbia laeta) belongs to the family Erebidae and lives in pine woodlands across much of North America. Males have forewings about 11 mm long and females about 17 mm; larvae feed on dandelion and plantain species. In the north it flies once a year in June-July, while in Texas it has two generations, appearing in March and June; in Louisiana adults are seen most months except December.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Male forewings are about 11 mm long; female forewings are about 17 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in pine woodlands.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae have been raised on dandelion and plantain species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Massachusetts, Vermont, Alabama, Mississippi.
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
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/Virbia_laeta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.