Bug FAQZebra Caterpillar Moth
Melanchra picta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Zebra Caterpillar
Source: Wikipedia
Zebra caterpillars are common across the United States and feed on cultivated vegetables, becoming noticeable in late summer. Adults have reddish-brown heads, thoraxes and forewings with purplish mottling, while mature larvae show bright black and yellow stripes.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adult moths are chestnut- or reddish-brown with purplish mottling on the wings. Mature caterpillars often have striking black and light-yellow longitudinal stripes.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adult wingspan ranges from about 35 to 40 mm. Fully grown larvae are also 35 to 40 mm long.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
In western states they are general feeders that turn into pests in late summer. They are commonly found together with bertha armyworms and variegated cutworms.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are found throughout the United States. Caterpillars feed during daylight and will roll up and drop when disturbed.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on cabbages, beets and other cultivated garden plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Young larvae feed together in small groups before molting, after which they spread out over the foliage. They are often found mixed with bertha armyworms and variegated cutworms.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They usually become pests in late summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The zebra caterpillar is the larval stage of the American noctuid moth Melanchra picta.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 33 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Montana, Washington.
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
How can I identify a zebra caterpillar?
Look for bright black and light-yellow longitudinal stripes on the caterpillar and reddish-brown adults with purplish mottling on the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
When do zebra caterpillars become a problem?
They typically become noticeable pests in late summer.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do zebra caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on cabbage, beet and other cultivated garden vegetables.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are zebra caterpillars found?
They are widespread throughout the United States.
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/Zebra_caterpillar
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.