Bug FAQRuddy Holomelina
Virbia rubicundaria · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Ruddy Virbia
Forewings measure about 8.9 mm in males and 8.7 mm in females. It lives along the Gulf Coast of the United States, from Georgia and Florida to eastern Texas. Larvae can be raised on dandelion species and on Lactuca floridana.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There are multiple generations each year and adults are on the wing year-round.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen throughout the year, indicating several generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the Gulf Coast region of the United States, from Georgia and Florida west to eastern Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 18 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Georgia, Texas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. 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 acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virbia_rubicundaria
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.