Bug FAQYellow Sedge Borer Moth
Globia subflava · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The yellow sedge borer moth has a wingspan of about 35 to 40 mm. Adults fly in July and there is one generation each year. Its larvae bore into the stems of cattail (Typha) and bulrush (Scirpus) plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Globia subflava, called the yellow sedge borer, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan ranges from 35 to 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs across North America from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, and south to New Jersey, Utah, and California.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae tunnel inside the stems of Typha (cattail) and Scirpus (bulrush) species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species produces one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing in July, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers much of Canada and the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 18 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Minnesota, Montana, Washington, Massachusetts, California, Idaho, Michigan, New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are yellow sedge borer moths active?
Adults are typically seen flying in July, though the exact timing can vary by region.
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/Globia_subflava
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.