American copper underwing
Newly emerged Copper Underwing moths gather together under loose tree bark in midsummer before flying on warm nights into autumn.
| Where | Broadleaf forests and woodland edges |
|---|---|
| Size | 32 to 58 mm wingspan |
| When | April to October |
The dark sooty brown forewings conceal a pair of hindwings washed in coppery orange, visible only when the moth is disturbed and briefly reveals them in flight.
Caterpillars are green with a pale stripe and a small hump near the tail, feeding on the leaves of many broadleaf trees and shrubs before the species overwinters as an egg.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Brown, Orange, Metallic
Active
Night
To people
Harmless to people; it does not bite or sting.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Established in parts of North America and overlapping in season, the Mouse Moth stays a plain, uniform grayish-brown all over, lacking the coppery orange hindwings that distinguish the Copper Underwing.
Questions
Is the American copper underwing dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; it does not bite or sting.
When can you see the American copper underwing?
The American copper underwing can be seen from April to October, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Mary Krieger, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Owlet moths›Amphipyra
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.