Bug FAQShanded Gold Spot
Autographa metallica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The shaded gold spot moth (Autographa metallica) belongs to the Noctuidae family. Adults have a wingspan of about 38 to 40 mm and fly in July and August.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 38 to 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae probably feed on various herbs.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from July to August, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active during July and August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers western North America, including southern Alaska, coastal islands, central California, and the Rocky Mountains to Colorado.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 10 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Alaska, Wyoming, California, Maine.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are shaded gold spot moths active?
Adults fly in July and August, depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars probably feed on a variety of herbaceous plants.
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/Autographa_metallica
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.