Bug FAQLucerne Moth
Nomophila nearctica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: American Rush Veneer, Celery Stalkworm, celery webworm
Source: Wikipedia
Adults have a wingspan of about 2.4 to 3.5 cm. They are found from southern Canada through the United States down to Mexico and the Neotropics. The caterpillars feed on a variety of herbaceous plants including celery, grasses and lucerne.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 24 to 35 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives across southern Canada, the whole United States, and extends south into Mexico and the Neotropics.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat celery, various grasses, lucerne (alfalfa), Medicago sativa, Polygonum, Melilotus and other low-growing herbaceous plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from April through November in North America.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
You can see adults flying between April and November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers southern Canada, all of the United States, Mexico and the Neotropical region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 49 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Does the lucerne moth damage garden plants?
Yes, its caterpillars feed on many garden herbs and crops such as celery, alfalfa and other low-lying plants.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult lucerne moths active?
Adults are on the wing from April through November in North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomophila_nearctica
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.