Moths in Arkansas: What's Flying Tonight

In Arkansas, summer nights bring day-flying hawk moths like the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), the common Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva punctella), and the green giant silk moth, the Luna Moth (Actias luna). Spring centers on the Luna Moth and the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americana), while early fall adds the boldly spotted Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) and the Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica). Exactly what's flying depends on the night, so the live tool below ranks Arkansas's most likely species for your location and date from open GBIF records.

What's flying in Arkansas right now

Arkansas spans the Ozarks, river bottoms, and southern pine woods, giving it a deep, mixed moth fauna. Around now, in early-to-mid summer, your light is likely to pull in the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) - a bumblebee-mimic sphinx that hovers at flowers by day - plus the small, all-season Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva punctella) and the green geometer Mellilla xanthometata. The state's marquee moth, the Luna Moth (Actias luna), is also on the wing.

Season by season

Spring (May)

May is prime time for the Luna Moth (Actias luna), the pale green giant silk moth whose long tails are thought to jam bat sonar. Adults of this and all giant silk moths never feed - they emerge only to mate and last a week or two. May also brings the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americana) and noctuids like Hypena scabra (green cloverworm moth) and Lacinipolia renigera.

Summer (July)

July layers in the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), the Hebrew moth Polygrammate hebraeicum, the geometer Prochoerodes lineola, and the wave moth Timandra amaturaria. The Luna Moth often produces a second summer brood here.

Fall (September)

Early fall is showy: the Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia), a big white moth dotted with iridescent dark rings, joins the Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) and the corn earworm moth Helicoverpa zea. The Ailanthus Webworm Moth and Luna Moth both linger into autumn.

Local mothing tips

• A UV or mercury-vapor bulb over a white sheet draws the most species; plain white LED is weaker because moths respond most to UV and short wavelengths.
• Moths cluster at lights because bright artificial light disrupts their flight orientation, not because they're seeking it - so one strong light in a dark yard works best.
• The Snowberry Clearwing flies in daylight, so check flower patches in the afternoon too.
• See what makes a good night for moths and luna moth season.

See tonight's Arkansas list

Use the live prediction tool to rank tonight's most likely moths at your location, browse the luna moth species page, or compare with all states. National Moth Week runs July 18-26, 2026.