Bug FAQThe Joker
Feralia jocosa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Joker, Jocose Sallow, Joker Moth
The Joker moth (Feralia jocosa) belongs to the Noctuidae family and has a wingspan of about 30 to 32 mm. It lives across much of northern North America, from the northeastern US through Canada to the west coast, and flies from April to June.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Feralia jocosa is commonly called the joker moth or jocose sallow.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan ranging between 30 and 32 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars mainly feed on pine trees (Pinus species). They have also been observed on eastern hemlock, preferring male cones before moving to new leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from April through June, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans spring to early summer, varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to much of the United States and Canada, spanning the eastern US, eastern Canada, and the western coast.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
In British Columbia’s lower mainland and Vancouver Island, a similar species called Feralia deceptiva replaces it.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 24 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Connecticut, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Hampshire, Maine.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult Joker moths?
Adults fly from April to June, with exact timing depending on where you are.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
They primarily feed on pine trees, but can also use eastern hemlock, especially its male cones.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the Joker moth found?
It lives across the northeastern US, parts of the Midwest, Newfoundland, and across Canada to the west coast.
Source: Wikipedia
What other moth looks like the Joker moth?
In the lower mainland and Vancouver Island, Feralia deceptiva is a look-alike species.
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_jocosa
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.