Bug FAQSmoky Tetanolita Moth
Tetanolita mynesalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Smoky Tetanolita
The smoky tetanolita moth (Tetanolita mynesalis) is a small litter moth with a wingspan of about 20 to 25 mm. It lives in eastern North America and adults are active from May through November. Its larvae probably feed on dead leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Tetanolita mynesalis, called the smoky tetanolita, belongs to the litter moth group in the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan ranges from 20 to 25 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in eastern North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars probably eat dead leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May to November.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
You can see adults from late spring through late fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is eastern North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, New Jersey.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. 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 acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetanolita_mynesalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.