Bug FAQOrange-spotted Idia Moth
Idia diminuendis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Orange-spotted Idia
Adults have a wingspan of about 16 mm and are found across North America from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast. Its caterpillars feed on dead leaves and other detritus, and the species usually produces two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan is roughly 16 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs throughout North America, from Wisconsin eastward to Nova Scotia and southward to Florida and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat detritus such as dead leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Most of its range supports two generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same region, from Wisconsin to Nova Scotia, and down to Florida and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 33 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Texas, New Jersey.
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
What do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on dead plant material, including fallen leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
Typically there are two generations in most of its range.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the orange-spotted Idia found?
It is found across North America from Wisconsin to Nova Scotia and south to Florida and Texas.
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/Idia_diminuendis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.