Bug FAQPale Phalaenostola Moth
Phalaenostola metonalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Pale Phalaenostola
The pale phalaenostola moth has a wingspan of about 20 to 24 mm and belongs to the family Erebidae. Its larvae eat dead grass, dead leaves of deciduous trees, and have been raised on dandelion and lettuce.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Phalaenostoma metonalis, known as the pale phalaenostola, is a moth in the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 20 to 24 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from June to September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is active during the summer months, June through September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers much of Canada and the United States, from the west coast to the east coast and down to the mid-Atlantic.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 28 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York, Vermont, Ohio, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Michigan.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; 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/Phalaenostola_metonalis
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.