Black-Dotted Brown

cissusa spadix

The Black-Dotted Brown (Cissusa spadix) is a modest yet captivating moth belonging to the family Erebidae. Arriving as a herald of spring, it is among the earlier flying moths in its native North American range, taking wing when many other insects are still dormant. Its subtle beauty lies in its intricate wing patterns, which perfectly mimic the dead leaves and bark of its woodland habitat. This remarkable camouflage allows it to evade predators while resting during the day. As a night flyer, the Black-Dotted Brown is often drawn to porch lights and sugar baits, making it a familiar sight for keen-eyed naturalists and backyard moth enthusiasts exploring early-season woodlands. Learn to recognize Black-Dotted Brown in the wild using the Snappit field guide app.

Habitat: Typically found in deciduous and mixed woodlands, oak-hickory forests, and scrublands across North America where its host trees are abundant.

Appearance

This moth features a relatively modest wingspan of 30 to 40 millimeters. Its forewings are typically colored in warm shades of reddish-brown, tan, or grayish-brown, traversed by fine, slightly wavy darker lines. The most distinguishing characteristic is the presence of several small, prominent black dots near the center and outer margins of the forewings, serving as subtle visual anchors in its otherwise cryptic patterning. The hindwings are generally a uniform, slightly paler brownish-gray. When at rest, the moth folds its wings flat against its body, resembling a dried oak leaf or a piece of textured tree bark.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyErebidaeGenusCissusa

Black-Dotted Brown

Interesting facts

The Black-Dotted Brown is one of the first moths to appear in early spring, often flying on nights when there's still a noticeable chill in the air.

Unlike many moths that flock exclusively to flowers, adult Black-Dotted Browns are notoriously fond of 'sugaring'—they love feeding on fermenting tree sap and decaying fruit.

When resting on a tree trunk, this moth aligns its wings with the grooves of the bark to maximize its leaf-litter and bark-like camouflage.

Special abilities

The wing patterns and coloration perfectly mimic dead leaves and bark, rendering the moth almost invisible to daytime predators when resting on trees.

Capable of flying in the cooler temperatures of early spring, allowing it to emerge and mate before many potential predators and competing moth species become active.

Equipped with highly sensitive antennae that detect specific pheromones and the scents of tree sap or nectar from great distances in the dark.

Measurements & details

Length: 1-2 cm
Wingspan: 3-4 cm
Weight: 0.0001-0.0003 kg
Lifespan: 0-1 years
Top Speed: 15 km/h
Clutch Size: 50-200
Incubation: 7-14 days

Diet & Feeding

Caterpillars primarily feed on the foliage of oak trees, while adult moths rely on tree sap, fermenting fruit, and occasionally nectar.

Age differences: Larvae are exclusively leaf-eating caterpillars (folivores), whereas adults possess a proboscis adapted for drinking liquid nourishment.