Bug FAQPale Mottled Willow Moth
Caradrina clavipalpis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Pale Mottled Willow
The pale mottled willow moth has a wingspan of about 26 to 35 mm and forewings 12 to 15 mm long. It lives across the Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America since 1993. The larvae feed on plantain and various grasses.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are grey with darker dusting, sometimes ochre-tinged, and have distinct blackish double lines and a pale, wavy subterminal line with grey shading and rufous marks; the hindwing is white with dark grey veins and edge.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 26 to 35 mm. Forewing length is 12 to 15 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found throughout Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and parts of South Asia. First recorded in North America in Queens, New York, in 1993.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars eat plantain (Plantago) and a variety of grasses.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In North America it produces two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from April through October, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Native to the Palearctic realm, including Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Similar forms include laciniosa Donz., which has three yellowish spots in the subterminal line, and leucoptera Thnbg., a darker northern variant with a white hindwing.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 13 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, District of Columbia, Illinois.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in Canada; introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
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/Caradrina_clavipalpis
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.