Bug FAQSpotted Grass Moth
Rivula propinqualis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The spotted grass moth, also called the yellow snout-moth, belongs to the family Erebidae. Adults have a wingspan of about 15 to 19 mm and are active from May through August. It lives across eastern North America, from southern Canada down to Florida and Texas and west to British Columbia and Washington, and its larvae eat various grasses.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Rivula propinqualis is the scientific name for the spotted grass moth, also known as the yellow snout-moth.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan ranges from 15 to 19 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adult moths are on the wing from May to August.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period for adults is May through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same eastern North American region described for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is a member of the family Erebidae, which includes many similar-looking moths.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 43 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin.
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/Rivula_propinqualis
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.