Bug FAQToothed Idia Moth
Idia denticulalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Toothed Idia
The toothed idia moth (Idia denticulalis) is a small litter moth in the family Erebidae with a wingspan of about 25 mm. It lives in eastern North America, from Quebec and the northeastern United States down to Alabama and Texas, and adults fly from spring through late summer. Its larvae feed on lichen, dead leaves and other detritus, and the species produces one generation per year in the north and two or more in the south.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Idia denticulalis, called the toothed idia, belongs to the litter moth group of the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan measures roughly 25 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in Quebec, Canada, and across the United States from Wisconsin to New England, extending south to Alabama and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars eat lichen and detritus such as dead leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In northern parts of its range there is one generation each year, while in southern areas there are two or more generations.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Vermont, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alabama, New York, North Carolina.
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
When are adult toothed idia moths active?
In Maryland they fly from April through September, and in Quebec they are seen from July to August.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does the toothed idia moth have each year?
Northern populations produce one generation per year, while southern populations can have two or more.
Source: Wikipedia
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 acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idia_denticulalis
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.