Bug FAQLunate Zale Moth
Zale lunata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Lunate Zale
The adult moth has a wingspan of about 40 to 55 mm. It occurs across both eastern and western North America. Adults can be seen flying at various times of the year depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 40 to 55 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found throughout eastern and western North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat leaves of various deciduous trees, including maple, willow and Prunus.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults may be on the wing year-round, depending on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range covers the east and west of North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 48 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, California, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Alabama, North Carolina, New Jersey.
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
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/Zale_lunata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.