Bug FAQOblique and Brown-spotted Zale Moths and Allies
Zale obliqua · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Oblique Zale, Oblique Zale Moth
The oblique and brown-spotted Zale moth has a wingspan of about 36 to 40 mm. It lives in barrens and pine woodlands across the eastern United States, from Ohio and southern Maine down to northern Florida, Mississippi and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Its wing pattern is less contrasting and it lacks the bluish-gray band seen in similar species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 36 to 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is one generation north of New Jersey, but two generations from eastern Maryland to northeastern North Carolina and farther south.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range in the United States extends from Ohio to southern Maine, and south to northern Florida, Mississippi and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 25 of 51 states and DC. Most records: North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Florida.
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
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/Zale_obliqua
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.