Bug FAQSuspected Moth
Parastichtis suspecta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The moth has a wingspan of about 29 to 34 mm and pale yellow-grey forewings that may show red-brown tinges, with distinct white-outlined stigmata. It lives across most of Europe, through Russia and the Palearctic to Japan, and is also found in North America. Caterpillars feed on several willow species from April to June, and the species overwinters as an egg, with adults flying in late July-August in a single generation.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are pale luteous grey, sometimes with a strong red-brown or brownish tinge, a distinct median shade, large upper stigmata with a whitish outline, a pale wavy submarginal line, and a darker terminal area; the hindwing is dull grey.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan measures between 29 and 34 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on willow species such as Salix lapponum, Salix caprea and Salix phylicifolia. Larvae are present from April through June.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species overwinters as an egg on its host plant.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults fly in late July and August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes Europe, Russia, the Palearctic region to Japan, and parts of North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be mistaken for forms such as ab. pallida, grisea, nigrescens, rufa and variegata, which differ in the intensity of red-brown or blackish tones and the clarity of markings.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 14 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota.
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
Same family (Noctuidae)
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- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parastichtis_suspecta
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.