Bug FAQPictured Lichen Moth
Cisthene picta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The pictured lichen moth belongs to the family Erebidae. Its wingspan measures about 18 mm. Adults fly from August through October in desert habitats across Texas to Arizona.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan is roughly 18 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in desert environments.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from August to October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 7 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Oklahoma, Vermont, Kansas, Indiana, Missouri, Virginia.
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
Questions people ask
When are adult pictured lichen moths active?
Adults are on the wing from August through October.
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 acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisthene_picta
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.