Bug FAQLarge Necklace Moth
Hypsoropha monilis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The large necklace moth has brown wings marked with a band of white spots that looks like a necklace. It is found from Texas and Kansas east to Florida and Maryland, and adults are most often seen from March to May.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults have brown wings with a post-medial row of white spots that meet at the inner edge, forming a necklace-like band.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults have been recorded from February through October, with most sightings between March and May.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans February to October, peaking in March to May.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 21 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi.
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
What does the large necklace moth look like?
It has brown wings with a distinctive white spot band that forms a necklace across the wing.
Source: Wikipedia
When are large necklace moths active?
Adults are seen from February through October, most commonly from March to May.
Source: Wikipedia
What other moth looks similar to the large necklace moth?
The small necklace moth (Hypsoropha hormos) looks similar and shares much of the same range.
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 acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsoropha_monilis
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.