Bug FAQWhite-dotted Groundling
Condica videns · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: White-dotted Groundling Moth
The white-dotted groundling moth has a wingspan of about 28 mm. It lives across North America, from Texas and Florida up to Quebec and west to Alberta. Its caterpillars feed on the flowers of many composite plants such as goldenrod and asters, and adults are on the wing from April through September in at least two generations.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Condica videns, the white-dotted groundling, is a moth in the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan measures roughly 28 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from April to September, producing at least two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
You’ll see them flying during the warm months, roughly April through September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range covers much of the United States and southern Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 39 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kansas, Mississippi, Michigan, South Carolina, Massachusetts.
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 are adult groundlings active?
Adults fly from April through September, with at least two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on the flowers of composite plants such as goldenrod and asters.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
It occurs across North America, from Texas and Florida up to Quebec and west to Alberta.
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/Condica_videns
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.