Bug FAQCommon Swift Moth
Korscheltellus lupulina · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Hepialidae
Also called: Lupulina Ghost Moth, Common Swift
Source: Wikipedia
Males have a wingspan around 30 mm and females about 40 mm, with dark brown forewings marked by white streaks that form a V shape and a spot near the costa. Adults fly at dusk in May-June, while the species overwinters as a larva that lives underground feeding on plant roots.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are dark brown with white streaks at the tip and base that meet to make a V, plus another spot near the leading edge; hindwings are plain brown.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of about 30 mm. Females are larger, with a wingspan near 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is a common and often abundant species throughout Europe.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae live underground and feed on the roots of many different plants. Adult moths lack a proboscis and do not feed, so they are rarely seen on flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species spends the winter as a larva. It pupates in a tunnel among roots, using spines on the pupa to move to the surface before emerging.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active at dusk during May and June.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to Europe, where it is common and often abundant.
Source: Wikipedia
Status: introduced in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I tell this moth apart from similar species?
Look for dark brown forewings with white V-shaped streaks and a spot near the costa; similar swift moths fly later in the season.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Hepialidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_swift_moth
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.