Bug FAQSpotted Clover Moth
Schinia nuchalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The spotted clover moth has a wingspan of about 31 to 32 mm. Adults are active in July, depending on where they live. Its caterpillars feed on sage species such as Artemisia dracunculus and Artemisia campestris.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Schinia nuchalis, also called the spotted sage moth, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan measures roughly 31 to 32 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on sage plants, specifically Artemisia dracunculus and Artemisia campestris, and possibly other sage species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adult moths are on the wing in July, with timing varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period for adults occurs in July, depending on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes southern Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and extends southward to northern Arizona.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is sometimes confused with the Eurasian Schinia scutosa, which is no longer considered the same species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 16 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Montana, Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, Minnesota, Idaho, Texas, Arizona.
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
What do the caterpillars of the spotted clover moth eat?
They feed on sage plants such as Artemisia dracunculus and Artemisia campestris, and may use other sage species as well.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see adult spotted clover moths?
Adults are active and can be seen flying in July, though the exact timing depends on the local area.
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/Schinia_nuchalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.