Bug FAQSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth
Orthosia hibisci · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Green Fruitworm, Speckled Green Fruit-worm, Speckled Green Fruitworm
The speckled green fruitworm moth has a wingspan of about 30 to 38 mm. Adults fly in late March to April, one generation per year, and the larvae feed on many hardwood trees.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Forewing patterns are highly variable, from almost no markings to strong bands.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan is typically 30 to 38 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in moist forests, riparian zones, agricultural fields and urban areas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on a variety of hardwood plants, including maples, oaks, birches, roses and related families.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from late March to April, producing one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period for adults is late March through April.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 48 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Oregon, Washington, Montana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, New York, California.
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 can I see adult speckled green fruitworm moths?
Adults are active from late March to April, with one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on many hardwood trees such as maples, oaks, birches, roses and related species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does this moth live?
It inhabits moist forests, riparian zones, farms and urban areas across most of North America, except deserts.
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/Orthosia_hibisci
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.