Bug FAQClouded Buff
Diacrisia sannio · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The Clouded Buff moth has a wingspan of about 35 to 50 mm and the male’s forewings are lemon yellow with a grey-red spot and pink edge, while females are brown-red overall. It lives across the Palearctic from Ireland to Siberia, and its caterpillars feed on a range of shrubs and herbaceous plants such as Galium, Plantago and Urtica. Adults fly in June-July, and in the far east of its range it can be confused with Diacrisia irene, which lacks the male’s black hindwing colour and has a reduced forewing spot.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Males have lemon-yellow forewings and ivory-yellow hindwings with a grey-red median spot and pink margins; females are suffused with brown-red colour.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 35 to 50 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found throughout the Palearctic realm, from Ireland eastward to Siberia.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on various shrubs and herbaceous plants. Recorded host plants include species of Galium, Plantago, Taraxacum, Epilobium and Urtica.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from June to July, timing varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight period is June-July depending on where they are found.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the Palearctic from Ireland to Siberia.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do Clouded Buff caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on a variety of shrubs and herbaceous plants, including Galium, Plantago, Taraxacum, Epilobium and Urtica.
Source: Wikipedia
When are Clouded Buff moths active?
Adults fly during June and July, with exact timing depending on the local area.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell a Clouded Buff apart from similar species?
In the far-eastern part of its range it may be confused with Diacrisia irene, which lacks the black colour on the male hindwing and usually has a smaller forewing spot.
Source: Wikipedia
What is the size of a Clouded Buff moth?
Its wingspan measures between 35 and 50 mm.
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/Diacrisia_sannio
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.