Bug FAQTexas Wasp Moth
Horama panthalon · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The Texas Wasp Moth’s wingspan measures roughly 32 to 34 mm. It mimics the appearance of paper wasps in the Polistes group.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
This moth looks like a paper wasp, copying the coloration of Polistes species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from about 32 to 34 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen on the wing all year round.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 7 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
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/Horama_panthalon
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.