Bug FAQRed-headed Pygarctia Moth
Pygarctia roseicapitis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The red-headed pygarctia moth belongs to the family Erebidae. Adults have forewings 14 to 17 mm long and fly from May through September. It lives in Mexico and the southern United States, from Arizona to Texas, where its larvae eat certain Euphorbiaceae plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Pygarctia roseicapitis is a moth in the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The forewings measure about 14 to 17 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on various Euphorbiaceae species, such as Chamaesyce hyssopifolia.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Full-grown larvae reach about 30 mm long.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from May to September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes Mexico and the southern U.S., specifically Arizona through Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Ohio.
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 red-headed pygarctia moths active?
Adults can be seen flying between May and September.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars of this moth eat?
The caterpillars feed on several Euphorbiaceae plants, including Chamaesyce hyssopifolia.
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/Pygarctia_roseicapitis
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.