Bug FAQSalt-and-pepper Looper Moth
Syngrapha rectangula · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Angulated Cutworm, Salt-and-Pepper Looper
The salt-and-pepper looper moth, Syngrapha rectangula, belongs to the Noctuidae family and has a wingspan of about 32 to 35 mm. It lives across much of North America, from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States west to British Columbia, Alberta and the Cascades, and its adults fly in July and August. The caterpillars feed on coniferous trees such as balsam fir, western hemlock, white spruce and Douglas fir.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 32 to 35 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on balsam fir (Abies balsamea), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), white spruce (Picea glauca) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July through August, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to North America, occurring in Canada and the United States across a broad east-west range.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 22 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Oregon, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Minnesota, Washington, New York.
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 salt-and-pepper looper moths active?
The adults fly during the summer months of July and August, though exact timing varies by region.
Source: Wikipedia
What trees do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on several conifers, including balsam fir, western hemlock, white spruce and Douglas fir.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngrapha_rectangula
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.