Bug FAQWhite-spotted Properigea Moth
Properigea albimacula · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: White-spotted Properigea
The white-spotted Properigea moth has a wingspan of about 15 mm and a warm brown forewing marked with a distinct white-filled reniform spot. Adults are on the wing in summer, especially in July, and are found in mixed hardwood forests, oak woodlands, coastal rainforests, and dry or riparian woods on both sides of the Cascades. Its range includes the western United States, from the Cascades north of Oregon through most of California.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewing is warm brown with a pure white-filled reniform spot that is rimmed in white.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan measures roughly 15 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults fly during the summer, with peak activity in July.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is found in the western United States, from the Cascades north of Oregon throughout California.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
A similar, grayer species, Properigea perolivalis, occurs in northern California and may appear in southwestern Oregon.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 6 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Oregon, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Utah.
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 white-spotted Properigea moths active?
Adults are active in the summer, especially in July.
Source: Wikipedia
What does the white-spotted Properigea moth look like?
It has a warm brown forewing with a distinctive white-filled, white-rimmed reniform spot.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find this moth?
It is found in mixed hardwood forests, oak woodlands, coastal rainforests, and dry or riparian woods on both sides of the Cascades in the western United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Is there a similar species I might confuse it with?
Yes, the grayer Properigea perolivalis occurs in northern California and may appear in southwestern Oregon.
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/Properigea_albimacula
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.