Deltoid Moth
Common NameDeltoid Moth
Scientific NameElaphria deltoides
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyCondicinae
Wingspan (mm)24
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown, pale brown
HabitatWoodlands, forests, open fields, and disturbed areas
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas.
Host Plantsdandelion, plantain, various herbaceous plants
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLike most moths, it undergoes complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. Larvae feed on herbaceous plants, and pupation likely occurs in the soil or leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the mottled brown forewings and the prominent, dark, pale-outlined reniform spot, which is often triangular or deltoid-shaped, giving the moth its common and scientific names.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with mottled brown forewings featuring a distinctive dark, somewhat heart-shaped or triangular reniform spot outlined in pale white or cream.
