Bug FAQWavy-lined Mallow Moth
Bagisara repanda · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The wavy-lined mallow moth is a noctuid moth identified as Bagisara repanda. Its forewings measure about 10 to 12 mm long. It lives from the southern United States through Central and South America, including places like Florida, Texas, Guatemala, Brazil and Argentina, and adults are seen from late August to November in Louisiana and year-round in tropical areas. The caterpillars feed on Sida and other plants in the mallow family.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Bagisara repanda, the wavy-lined mallow moth, belongs to the family Noctuidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The length of each forewing is between 10 and 12 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
In Louisiana most adults fly from late August through November, while in tropical regions they can be on the wing all year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes the southern United States (from South Carolina to Florida and west to Texas) and extends southward through Central and South America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 12 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, Kansas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on Sida plants and may also eat other mallow-family species.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult moths active?
Adults are active from late August to November in Louisiana and throughout the year in tropical areas.
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/Bagisara_repanda
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.