Bug FAQVetch Looper Moth
Caenurgia chloropha · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Source: Wikipedia
The adult moth has a wingspan of roughly 27 to 36 mm. It lives in the southeastern United States, northern Mexico and Cuba, and occasional individuals wander as far north as southern Ontario. There are two or more generations each year, with adults flying from April through October and full-grown larvae appearing from May onward.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure about 27 to 36 mm across the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
You’ll find it in the southeastern U.S., northern Mexico and Cuba, and sometimes farther north in southern Ontario.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae eat vetch and other legume plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There are two or more generations each year, with adults on the wing from April to October. Full-grown larvae can be found starting in May.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from April through October, covering the spring, summer and early fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the southeastern United States, northern Mexico and Cuba. Strays may turn up as far north as southern Ontario.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, 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
Where is this moth found?
It occurs in the southeastern United States, northern Mexico and Cuba, with occasional strays reaching southern Ontario.
Source: Wikipedia
When are the adults active?
Adults fly from April through October, and larvae appear from May onward.
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 acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caenurgia_chloropha
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.