Bug FAQTwo-spotted Looper Moth
Autographa bimaculata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Double-Spotted Spangle, Twin Gold Spot, Two-spotted Looper
The two-spotted looper moth (Autographa bimaculata) has a wingspan of about 37 to 40 mm. Adults fly in July and August, and there is one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 37 to 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on dandelion (Taraxacum) and also accept plantain (Plantago) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July to August, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers much of North America, matching the distribution described above.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 14 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Colorado, Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin, New York.
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
Questions people ask
When are adult two-spotted looper moths active?
Adults fly in July and August, with timing varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
It produces one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
The larvae feed on dandelion, and will also eat plantain and stinging nettle.
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/Autographa_bimaculata
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.