Quercus

River Birch

Betula nigra

Native to Kentucky (estimated)

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

280CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Betula

Show all 280
  • Acrolophus moraDark Grass-Tubeworm
  • Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
  • Acronicta betulaeBirch Dagger
  • Acronicta fragilisFragile Dagger
  • Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
  • Acronicta hastuliferaFrosted Dagger, Hoary Alder Dagger
  • Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
  • Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
  • Acronicta incretaSouthern Oak Dagger, Eclipsed Oak Dagger, Small Oak Dagger
  • Acronicta innotataUnmarked Dagger
  • Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
  • Acronicta lepusculinaCottonwood Dagger
  • Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
  • Acronicta ovataOvate Dagger, Epauleted Oak Dagger
  • Acronicta radcliffeiRadcliffe's Dagger
  • Acronicta superansSplendid Dagger, Chieftain Dagger
  • Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
  • Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
  • Agonopterix argillaceaClay-Colored Agonopterix
  • Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
  • Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Amorpha juglandisWalnut Sphinx
  • Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Anania tertialisCrowned Anania, Crowned Phlyctaenia
  • Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
  • Ancylis floridanaStrawberry Leafroller
  • Ancylis muricanaRed-Headed Ancylis
  • Anisota senatoriaOrange-Tipped Oakworm Moth, Orangestriped Oakworm
  • Anisota virginiensisPink-striped Oakworm Moth
  • Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
  • Antaeotricha schlaegeriSchlaeger's Fruitworm Moth
  • Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
  • Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
  • Arctia parthenosSt. Lawrence Tiger Moth
  • Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
  • Argyrotaenia occultanaFall Spruce Needle Moth
  • Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
  • Autographa amplaLarge Looper Moth, Broken-Banded Y, Climbing Looper
  • Automeris ioIo Moth
  • Baileya ophthalmicaEyed Baileya
  • Besma endropiariaStraw Besma
  • Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
  • Bibarrambla allenellaBog Bibarrambla
  • Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
  • Bucculatrix canadensisellaBirch Skeletonizaer Moth
  • Bucculatrix coronatellaCrowned Bucculatrix, Mid-Rib Cocoon Moth
  • Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
  • Cameraria lentellaBirch Leaffolding Blotchminer
  • Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
  • Catastega timidellaOak Trumpet Skeletonizer Moth
  • Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
  • Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
  • Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
  • Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
  • Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
  • Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
  • Cepphis armatariaScallop Moth
  • Cepphis decolorariaDark Scallop Moth
  • Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
  • Ceratomia amyntorElm Sphinx
  • Charadra deridensThe Laugher
  • Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
  • Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
  • Choristoneura obsoletanaObsolete Leafroller
  • Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
  • Cladara atroliturataThe Scribbler
  • Clepsis melaleucanusBlack-Patched Clepsis, Trillium Tortrix
  • Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
  • Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
  • Coleophora atromarginataPistol Casebearer, American Pistol Casebearer Moth
  • Coleophora multipulvellaApple Pistol Casebearer, Pistol Casebearer Moth
  • Coleophora pruniellaCherry Casebearer, Apple Leafmining Casebearer, Western Cigar Casebearer
  • Colocasia flavicornisYellowhorn, Saddled Yellowhorn
  • Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
  • Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
  • Cucullia intermediaIntermediate Cucullia, Goldenrod Cutworm, Dashed Paint, Intermediate Hooded Owlet Moth
  • Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
  • Cydia latiferreanaFilbertworm
  • Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
  • Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
  • Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
  • Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
  • Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
  • Drepana arcuataArched Hooktip, Masked Birch Caterpillar
  • Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
  • Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
  • Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
  • Elaphria versicolorVariegated Midget
  • Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
  • Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
  • Epinotia lindanaDiamondback Epinotia, Dogwood Leafroller
  • Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
  • Erora laetaEarly Hairstreak
  • Euchlaena amoenariaDeep Yellow Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena deductariaForked Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena irrariaLeast-Marked Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena marginariaOchre Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena obtusariaObtuse Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena tigrinariaMotted Euchlaena
  • Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
  • Eueretagrotis attentusAttentive Dart
  • Eueretagrotis perattentusTwo-Spot Dart
  • Eulia ministranaFerruginous Eulia
  • Eupithecia columbiataColumbia Pug
  • Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
  • Eupsilia cirripaleaFranclemont's Sallow
  • Eupsilia morrisoniMorrison's Sallow
  • Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
  • Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
  • Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
  • Fishia illocataWandering Brocade
  • Gesta icelusDreamy Duskywing
  • Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
  • Gretchena delicatanaIronwood Fruitworm Moth
  • Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
  • Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
  • Hedya separatanaPink-Washed Leafroller Moth
  • Heterocampa pulvereaWhite-Blotched Heterocampa
  • Hydrelia albiferaFragile White Carpet
  • Hydrelia inornataUnadorned Carpet
  • Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
  • Hypena eductalisRed-Footed Bomolocha, Red-footed Snout
  • Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Hypomecis umbrosariaUmber Moth
  • Hypoprepia fucosaPainted Lichen Moth
  • Ianassa lignicolorWhite-Streaked Prominent
  • Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
  • Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
  • Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
  • Isa textulaCrowned Slug
  • Lacinipolia loreaBridled Arches, Bridle Groundcat
  • Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
  • Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
  • Limenitis archippusViceroy
  • Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
  • Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
  • Lithophane baileyiBailey's Pinion
  • Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
  • Lithophane groteiGrote's Pinion, Green Fruit Worm
  • Lithophane heminaHemina Pinion
  • Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
  • Lithophane laticinereaBroad Ashen Pinion, Russet Spotted Pinion, Triple-Spotted Pinion
  • Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
  • Lithophane querqueraShivering Pinion
  • Lobophora nivigerataPowdered Bigwing, Two-Lined Aspen Looper
  • Lochmaeus bilineataDouble-Lined Prominent
  • Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
  • Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
  • Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
  • Lycophotia phyllophoraBrick Dart, Leafy Dart
  • Lyonetia prunifoliellaStriped Bent-wing
  • Macaria bisignataRed-Headed Inchworm
  • Macaria ulsterataBirch Angle, Peacock Moth
  • Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
  • Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
  • Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
  • Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
  • Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
  • Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
  • Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
  • Mesoleuca ruficillataWhite-Ribboned Carpet, Red-fringed Carpet
  • Metanema determinataDark Metanema
  • Metanema inatomariaPale Metanema
  • Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
  • Metarranthis pilosariaX
  • Moodna ostrinellaDarker Moodna
  • Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
  • Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
  • Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
  • Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
  • Nemoria bistriariaTwo-Striped Emerald, Red-Fringed Emerald
  • Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
  • Nepytia canosariaFalse Hemlock Looper Moth, Evergreen Span Worm
  • Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
  • Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
  • Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
  • Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
  • Operophtera bruceataBruce Spanworm
  • Oreta roseaRose Hooktip
  • Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Orthodes detractaDisparaged Arches, Disparaged Groundcat
  • Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
  • Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
  • Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
  • Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
  • Pachysphinx modestaModest Sphinx, The Big Poplar Sphinx
  • Packardia geminataJeweled Tail Slug Moth
  • Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
  • Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
  • Pandemis lamprosanaWoodgrain Leafroller
  • Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
  • Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
  • Paraclemensia acerifoliellaMaple Leafcutter, Maple Case-Bearer
  • Parallelia bistriarisMaple Looper Moth
  • Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
  • Peridea ferrugineaChocolate Prominent
  • Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
  • Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
  • Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
  • Phalaenostola metonalisPale Epidelta, Pale Phalaenostola
  • Phiaris glacianaFrosted Olethreutes
  • Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
  • Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
  • Phlogophora irisOlive Angle Shades
  • Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
  • Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
  • Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
  • Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
  • Plagodis phlogosariaStraight-Lined Plagodis
  • Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
  • Plagodis serinariaLemon Plagodis
  • Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
  • Pococera aplastellaAspen Webworm Moth
  • Polia imbriferaCloudy Arches
  • Polia nimbosaStormy Arches
  • Polygonia commaEastern Comma
  • Probole alienariaDogwood Probole, Alien Probole
  • Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
  • Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
  • Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
  • Protitame virginalisVirgin Moth
  • Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
  • Pseudohermonassa bicarneaPink-Spotted Dart
  • Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
  • Psilocorsis cryptolechiellaBlack-Fringed Leaftier
  • Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
  • Pyreferra citrombraEyed Mustard Sallow, Citrine Sallow
  • Pyreferra pettitiPettit's Sallow
  • Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
  • Rifargia subrotataSmall Heterocampa
  • Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
  • Selenia alcipheariaNorthern Selenia, Northern Thorn
  • Selenia kentariaKent's Geometer
  • Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
  • Sphinx chersisGreat Ash Sphinx
  • Sphinx kalmiaeFawn Sphinx, Laurel Sphinx
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
  • Symmerista leucitysOrange-Humped Mapleworm
  • Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
  • Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
  • Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
  • Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
  • Thalera pistasciariaPistachio Emerald
  • Thyraylia nanaBroad-Patched Cochylid
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
  • Tortricidia flexuosaAbbreviated Button Slug Moth
  • Tortricidia testaceaEarly Button Slug
  • Venusia comptariaBrown-Shaded Carpet
  • Xanthorhoe lacustrataToothed Brown Carpet
  • Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
  • Zale calycanthataDouble-Banded Zale
  • Zale lunataLunate Zale
  • Zale minereaColorful Zale
  • Acleris cervinana
  • Acleris placidana
  • Anania extricalis
  • Dichomeris ventrellus
  • Ectoedemia quadrinotata
  • Nemapogon variatella
  • Olethreutes auricapitana
  • Parornix obliterella
  • Phyllonorycter martiella
  • Stigmella apicialbella
  • Stigmella corylifoliella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
1BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Betula

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
8BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Betula

  • Acanthis flammeaCommon Redpoll
  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
  • Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
  • Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
  • Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
  • Sphyrapicus variusYellow-bellied Sapsucker
  • Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Betulaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4a–9b
Soil pH
Acidic to neutral
Flower color
Yellow or green
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Several stems
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Spring
Fruit ends
Spring

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Black Birch; River Birch

Conservation status

Kentucky rankS5
Global rankG5
KY statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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