Bug FAQKentucky Lichen Moth
Cisthene kentuckiensis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
The larvae feed on lichens.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars eat lichens.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the United States, spanning from New Jersey down to northern Florida and westward to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 16 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Delaware.
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Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
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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 acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisthene_kentuckiensis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.