Bug FAQLittle White Lichen Moth
Clemensia albata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The adult moth’s forewings measure about 10 to 11 mm long. Adults fly from late June through early September.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults can be seen flying between late June and early September.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length is 10 to 11 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They have been recorded feeding on algae.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The adult flight period runs from late June through early September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from late June to early September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It occurs in eastern North America and across boreal Canada to southeastern British Columbia, extending down the Pacific Coast to Monterey Bay, California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 42 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Vermont, Tennessee, Virginia, New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are Little White Lichen Moths active?
Adults are on the wing from late June to early September.
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/Clemensia_albata
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.