Bug FAQPygoctenucha terminalis
Pygoctenucha terminalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The blue-green lichen moth (Pygoctenucha terminalis) is a small moth with a wingspan of about 43 mm and belongs to the family Erebidae. It lives in Mexico and the western United States (eastern Colorado, New Mexico, southeastern Arizona) and the adults are on the wing from late May to early August. Its larvae feed on milkweed species such as Asclepias tuberosa.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The blue-green lichen moth belongs to the Erebidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wings measure about 43 mm across.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in Mexico and in parts of the United States such as eastern Colorado, New Mexico and southeastern Arizona.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on milkweed plants, including Asclepias tuberosa.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from late May through early August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes Mexico and the western United States, specifically eastern Colorado, New Mexico and southeastern Arizona.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 3 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona.
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
Questions people ask
When are adult blue-green lichen moths active?
Adults fly from late May until early August.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
The larvae feed on milkweed species such as Asclepias tuberosa.
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/Pygoctenucha_terminalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.