Yellow-collared scape moth vs Virginia ctenucha moth
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a yellow-collared scape moth from a Virginia ctenucha moth, and whether either one bites or stings.
Yellow-collared scape moth
Cisseps fulvicollis
Virginia ctenucha moth
Ctenucha virginica
≠The key differences
Virginia ctenucha is larger, with an orange head and a metallic blue body, and flies mainly in early summer; Cisseps fulvicollis is smaller and slimmer with a yellow-orange collar and a dark head.
Smaller and slimmer, with a narrower orange or yellow collar and more uniformly dark wings; less metallic blue sheen than Ctenucha virginica.
⚖︎Side by side
| Yellow-collared scape moth | Virginia ctenucha moth | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Size | Wingspan 25-35 mm | 40-50 mm wingspan |
| Colours | Black, Yellow, Orange, Metallic blue | Metallic blue-black, Bright orange, Cream/Yellow collar |
| Family | Erebidae | Erebidae |
| Habitat | Open habitats: meadows, fields, roadsides, gardens, and other grassy areas | Meadows, wet prairies, roadsides, marsh edges, and gardens with nectar sources and grasses or sedges for larvae. |
| Range | Widespread across much of North America, including southern Canada and the United States | Eastern and central North America — from the Atlantic coast west to parts of the Great Plains and north into southern Canada; local depending on habitat. |
| Active | Late spring to autumn (months vary by latitude); primarily day-flying and active at dusk | Summer months (typically June to August, with a second flight in some southern areas); diurnal (active during the day, especially sunny hours). |
| Pest? | No | No |
🔍How to spot a yellow-collared scape moth
- Narrow dark brownish-black wings with no bold markings; hindwings pale and translucent at the base
- Distinct yellow to orange collar (thoracic tuft) immediately behind the head
- Slim, dark body, sometimes with a bluish sheen
- Day-flying habit and frequent visits to flowers in sunny grassy areas
🔍How to spot a Virginia ctenucha moth
- Look for dark olive-brown to blackish wings, a metallic blue body and a bright orange head with orange-yellow collar.
- Active in daylight on flowers; holds wings flat and is relatively fast-moving compared with many nocturnal moths.
- Wingspan about 40-50 mm; caterpillars are densely hairy with tufts of black, yellowish or whitish hairs.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a yellow-collared scape moth and a Virginia ctenucha moth?
Virginia ctenucha is larger, with an orange head and a metallic blue body, and flies mainly in early summer; Cisseps fulvicollis is smaller and slimmer with a yellow-orange collar and a dark head. Smaller and slimmer, with a narrower orange or yellow collar and more uniformly dark wings; less metallic blue sheen than Ctenucha virginica.
Is a yellow-collared scape moth or a Virginia ctenucha moth more dangerous?
Yellow-collared scape moth: Non-toxic. Virginia ctenucha moth: Non-toxic. Adults do not bite or sting. Virginia ctenucha moths do not bite or sting.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.