Bug FAQShort-lined Chocolate
Argyrostrotis anilis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Short-lined Chocolate Moth
The adult moth has a wingspan of about 25 mm. Its larvae feed on the leaves of American plum (Prunus americana).
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult's wingspan is about 25 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of American plum (Prunus americana).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 38 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Florida.
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
What do the larvae of Short-lined Chocolate feed on?
The larvae eat the leaves of American plum (Prunus americana).
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/Argyrostrotis_anilis
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.