Bug FAQWandering Sunset
Uresiphita gilvata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Yellow-underwing Pearl
The wandering sunset has a wingspan of about 29 to 37 mm. Adults are active in early autumn, typically from September through October. It was first described in 1794 and occurs across Europe and North Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are grey-brown to light brown and may show faint whitish bands near the middle. The hindwings are a pale or bright yellow with a distinct black border.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 29 mm to 37 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on low-growing herbaceous plants such as Genista, Cytisus and Ulex.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from September to October, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period is September-October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes Europe and North Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Some sources list it as a synonym of Uresiphita polygonalis.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
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Questions people ask
When are adult wandering sunset moths seen?
They fly in early autumn, usually from September through October.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on low-growing herbaceous plants like Genista, Cytisus and Ulex.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uresiphita_gilvata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.