Bug FAQWhite-tipped Black
Melanchroia chephise · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
The white-tipped black moth belongs to the Geometridae family and is scientifically named Melanchroia chephise. Its wingspan measures about 33 mm. Adults fly from September through December, and the species occurs from Florida and Texas down to Paraguay, with occasional strays farther north.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan is roughly 33 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives from Florida and Texas southward to Paraguay, and occasional individuals have been found as far north as Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Illinois.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on plants in the Phyllanthaceae family, such as Breynia and Phyllanthus species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adult moths are on the wing from September through December.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults appear during the fall months, specifically September to December.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its core range extends from Florida and Texas down to Paraguay.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 9 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Arizona, Kansas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I expect to see adult white-tipped black moths?
Adults are active from September through December.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the larvae eat?
The larvae feed on Phyllanthaceae plants, including Breynia and Phyllanthus species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
Its range runs from Florida and Texas down to Paraguay, with occasional sightings farther north in several U.S. states.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria
Pale BeautyCampaea perlataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Lace-border MothScopula limboundataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Riband WaveIdaea aversata
Yellow Shell MothCamptogramma bilineata
Large Maple Spanworm MothProchoerodes lineolaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanchroia_chephise
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.