Bug FAQVirginia Ctenucha Moth
Ctenucha virginica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Virginia Ctenucha
The Virginia Ctenucha moth has a wingspan of about 40 to 50 mm and its wings range from black to olive brown, while the body shines metallic blue-green. It lives in eastern North America, from Newfoundland down to Virginia, and its larvae eat grasses, irises and sedges, while adults sip nectar from flowers such as goldenrod. The moth develops through metamorphosis between May and August, and it can be confused with the yellow-collared scape moth or the grapeleaf skeletonizer.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The wings vary from black to olive brown and the body is a metallic blue-green.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan is roughly 40 to 50 mm (1.6 to 2.0 in).
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on grasses, irises and sedges; adults drink nectar from flowers like goldenrod.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Undergoes metamorphosis from May through August.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Active metamorphosis period is May to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Endemic to the same eastern North American range.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Can be mistaken for Cisseps fulvicollis (yellow-collared scape moth) or Harrisina americana (grapeleaf skeletonizer).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 29 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Minnesota, Ohio, Maine, Illinois.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see these moths?
Adults are present during their metamorphosis period from May to August.
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/Ctenucha_virginica
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.