Bug FAQSpotted Peppergrass Moth
Eustixia pupula · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: American Cabbage Pearl, Peppergrass Pyralid (old)
Source: Wikipedia
Adults have a wingspan of about 17 mm. The caterpillars feed on leaves of Lepidium, Thlaspi arvense and cabbage. Moths are active from June through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan measures roughly 17 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from June to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 37 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Maryland.
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
Questions people ask
What plants does the spotted peppergrass moth damage?
Its larvae feed on Lepidium, Thlaspi arvense and cabbage leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see adult spotted peppergrass moths?
Adults are active from June through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustixia
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.