Bug FAQSyngrapha celsa
Syngrapha celsa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Its wingspan measures about 34 to 38 mm and adults are on the wing from July through September, depending on location. The caterpillars feed on several conifer species such as fir, spruce, pine and hemlock.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult moth’s wingspan ranges from 34 to 38 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in North America, from British Columbia down to California and eastward to Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on firs (Abies), spruces (Picea), pines (Pinus) and hemlock (Tsuga).
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from July to September, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same North American region listed for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 8 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Kansas, Colorado.
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 can I see adult plain silver Y moths?
Adults fly from July through September, depending on where you are.
Source: Wikipedia
What trees do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on several conifers, including firs, spruces, pines and hemlock.
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/Syngrapha_celsa
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.