Bug FAQMullein and Black-dashed Apamea Moths and Allies
Apamea verbascoides · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Verbascoides Apamea Moth, Mullein Apamea Moth
The Mullein and Black-dashed Apamea moth has a wingspan of about 36 to 43 mm. It lives across North America from the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan to Newfoundland and Labrador and down to North Carolina. Adults are seen flying between June and September, depending on where they are found.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults are on the wing from June through September, varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan ranges from 36 to 43 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars probably feed on grasses and sedges.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species produces one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from June to September, depending on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers much of Canada and the northern United States, from the prairie provinces to the Atlantic coast and down to the Carolinas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 16 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, Maine, Vermont, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult Mullein and Black-dashed Apamea moths?
Adults are on the wing from June through September, with exact timing varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
There is one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apamea_verbascoides
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.