Bug FAQMajor Sallow
Feralia major · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Major Sallow Moth
The major sallow moth has a wingspan of roughly four centimeters. It lives across the northern United States into western Alberta, favoring boreal forest areas. Adults are on the wing in April, though the exact timing varies by location, and the caterpillars feed on pine trees.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Populations in the southeastern U.S. down to Texas are brighter blue-green and may represent a different species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan measures about 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on species of pine.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults emerge and fly in April, with the exact date depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period occurs in April, varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the northeastern United States extending west to western Alberta.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Southern populations that are brighter blue-green can be confused with this moth but may be a separate species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 31 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Alabama, Mississippi, New Jersey, Georgia, 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; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are major sallow moths active?
Adults are on the wing in April, though the exact timing changes with location.
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/Feralia_major
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.