Bug FAQYellow-headed Lichen Moth
Crambidia cephalica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The yellow-headed lichen moth has forewings 9 to 15 mm long. Adults fly from March through September, producing several generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length ranges from 9 to 15 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It prefers steppe areas and open forest habitats.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from March to September, with several generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is active from March through September, producing multiple generations.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 23 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Virginia, Montana, North Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are yellow-headed lichen moths active?
Adults fly from March to September, and there are several generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Erebidae)
Spongy MothLymantria disparDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cuneaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown-tail MothEuproctis chrysorrhoeaCan irritate skin
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabella
Virginian Tiger MothSpilosoma virginicaCan irritate skin
Salt Marsh MothEstigmene acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crambidia_cephalica
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.