Bug FAQWandering Brocade Moth
Fishia illocata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The wandering brocade moth has a wingspan of about 35 mm and belongs to the Noctuidae family. It is found coast-to-coast across North America, especially in wet coastal and northern Rocky Mountain conifer forests, and the adults fly in the fall.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Fishia illocata, called the wandering brocade, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures about 35 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives across North America, especially in wet coastal forests and moist conifer forests of the northern Rocky Mountains.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars eat the leaves of alder trees (Alnus species).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active in the fall.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on wing in fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range extends from coast to coast in North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 25 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Alaska, Michigan, Oregon, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Washington, Connecticut.
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
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/Fishia_illocata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.