Bug FAQStraight-lined Plagodis Moth
Plagodis phlogosaria · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Also called: Straight-lined Plagodis
Source: Wikipedia
Adults have a wingspan of about 28 to 38 mm. They are on the wing from spring through summer, roughly April to August, depending on where you live. The larvae feed on a variety of trees and shrubs such as alder, birch, willow and cherry.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
This moth is called the straight-lined plagodis and belongs to the Geometridae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 28 mm to 38 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from April through August, with timing varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Moth activity spans the spring and summer months, roughly April to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the United States and Canada, covering the continent except the extreme southern and northern areas.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is a member of the Geometridae family, which includes many similarly patterned moths.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 38 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota.
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
When are adult moths seen?
Adults fly from April to August, depending on where you are.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria
Pale BeautyCampaea perlataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Lace-border MothScopula limboundataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Riband WaveIdaea aversata
Yellow Shell MothCamptogramma bilineata
Large Maple Spanworm MothProchoerodes lineolaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagodis_phlogosaria
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.