Bug FAQUnspotted Looper Moth
Allagrapha aerea · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The unspotted looper moth has a wingspan of about 28 to 42 mm. Adults fly from April through September, and later into October in the southern part of its range.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 28 to 42 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae probably feed on a variety of herbaceous plants. Recorded host plants include nettles (Urtica), Aster umbellatus, and soybeans.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There are two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from April through September, extending to October in the southern part of the range.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 37 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana.
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 unspotted looper moths?
Adults fly from April to September, and later into October in the south.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
It produces two generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on various herbaceous plants, with records on nettles, Aster umbellatus, and soybeans.
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/Allagrapha_aerea
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.