In Florida the moths flying on a given night look subtropical, and they keep flying when most of the country has shut down for winter. The single most-recorded species across nearly every month is the Ornate Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix), a small pink-and-orange day-and-night flier tied to rattlebox plants. Alongside it you will reliably find the tropical crambid Syngamia florella, the Oleander Moth (Syntomeida epilais, a wasp-mimic that thrives on planted oleander), and the Io Moth (Automeris io) with its startling eyespots. Florida's big silk moths show up far earlier in the year than they do up north: the Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) appears in records every single month, and the Luna Moth (Actias luna) is already on the wing by February. Come summer, the Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) and Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) join in, and the Southern Flannel Moth (Megalopyge opercularis) becomes one of the most-recorded species of all. These are the species most often logged in open records over Florida; it is a "most likely tonight" list, not a complete checklist of the state's roughly 3,000 moth species.
Which moths fly in Florida in winter?
This is where Florida breaks every rule a northern mothing list follows. In January, the most-recorded species are the Ornate Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix), the tropical crambid Syngamia florella, the tiger moth Halysidota cinctipes, and Lymire edwardsii, a wasp-mimic tiger moth whose caterpillars feed on strangler fig and other Ficus. Even in the dead of winter the big charismatic species are present: the Io Moth (Automeris io) and the Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) both rank in January, and February actually puts Polyphemus at number one with the Luna Moth (Actias luna) and Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) close behind. Winter is also when Florida's tropical sphinxes are easiest to find: the Ello Sphinx (Erinnyis ello), Grote's Sphinx (Cautethia grotei), and the Tersa Sphinx (Xylophanes tersa) all show up in the cool-season records, along with the striking Spanish Moth (Xanthopastis regnatrix). If you are reading this in December, expect Bella, Syngamia, Io, the Oleander Moth (Syntomeida epilais), the Spotted Oleander Moth (Empyreuma pugione), and Polyphemus.
What's flying in spring?
March and April flip the lineup toward the tent caterpillar and tussock moths. Orgyia detrita tops both months, followed by the Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria) and the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americana) — a spring signal driven by oak and cherry leaf-out. The Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) climbs the April list, and the Virginia Creeper Sphinx (Darapsa myron) starts appearing. Luna and Polyphemus stay in the mix the whole time, and the Giant Leopard Moth keeps rising. By May the Io Moth jumps to number one, joined by aquatic-feeding crambids like Samea multiplicalis and Parapoynx allionealis (their caterpillars feed on floating and submerged plants — very Florida, with all that water), plus the day-flying Pyrausta tyralis and the Echo Moth (Seirarctia echo), a tiger moth whose larvae eat coontie and cycads.
What's flying in mid-summer?
June through August is peak giant-silkmoth season. June leads with the Southern Flannel Moth (Megalopyge opercularis) — fuzzy and adorable, but its caterpillar (the "puss caterpillar") packs Florida's most notorious sting — followed by Io, and the arrival of the Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), a huge yellow-and-purple saturniid. The Pink-striped Oakworm Moth (Anisota virginiensis) and Rosy Maple Moth fill out the early-summer roster. July keeps Io at the top with Imperial and Luna still flying. Then August brings a distinctly Florida-agricultural shift: the Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth (Anticarsia gemmatalis) explodes to number one. This is a migratory tropical species that pours into the state on summer winds and is a well-known pest of soybean and peanut — its sudden dominance in late summer is a fingerprint you would not see in a northern state's list.
What's flying in fall?
The migratory, tropical character peaks in autumn. Anticarsia gemmatalis and Syngamia florella trade the top spots through September, October, and November, and the Banded Sphinx (Eumorpha fasciatus) joins as a charismatic hawkmoth tied to primrose-willow in wet areas. October introduces the Three-lined Flower Moth (Schinia trifascia) and the looper Mocis latipes, a grass-feeding migrant. The Tersa Sphinx and Lucifer's Bird-dropping Moth (Enyo lugubris) are reliable fall sphinxes. Through November the Bella Moth reclaims number one and the Oleander Moth stays prominent, easing the list back toward its year-round subtropical baseline rather than shutting down the way mothing does farther north.
How do I get tonight's Florida list?
The month-by-month species above are the most-recorded moths from open-licensed GBIF records (CC0/CC-BY), aggregated over an approximate Florida area, with butterflies excluded. It is a snapshot of what is most likely, not an exhaustive checklist. To get a list tuned to your exact spot and date, enter your location in the tool — it pulls the species most likely flying near you tonight and pairs them with a "good mothing night" score based on the weather forecast and the moon, so you know whether to set up a sheet and light this evening. For confirming a photo ID, we point you to iNaturalist and the Moth Photographers Group rather than guessing — this project is about forecasting and discovery, not identification.
Frequently asked
What is the most common moth in Florida?In open GBIF records, the Ornate Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) is the most-recorded moth across nearly every month of the year. It is a small, day-and-night-flying pink-and-orange moth whose caterpillars feed on rattlebox (Crotalaria), and it is a hallmark of Florida's subtropical fauna.
Are there luna moths in Florida?Yes. The Luna Moth (Actias luna) appears in Florida's records as early as February and stays in the lineup through much of the year. Florida also has other big saturniids on the same nights, including the Polyphemus Moth (every month), the Io Moth, the Imperial Moth (summer and fall), and the Rosy Maple Moth.
Do moths fly year-round in Florida?Effectively yes. Unlike northern states where mothing largely pauses in winter, Florida's records show strong activity in December, January, and February — including Bella Moths, the tropical crambid Syngamia florella, the Oleander Moth, Io and Polyphemus moths, and several tropical sphinxes like the Ello and Tersa sphinxes.
Why are velvetbean caterpillar moths suddenly everywhere in late summer?The Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth (Anticarsia gemmatalis) is a migratory tropical species that arrives in Florida on summer winds and builds up in late summer, becoming the most-recorded moth in August through October. It is well known as a pest of soybean and peanut, which is why its numbers spike so sharply in the warm season.
Is this a complete list of Florida's moths?No. These are the most-recorded species from open-licensed GBIF records over an approximate Florida area, so it reflects what gets observed and shared most often, not every species present. Florida has on the order of 3,000 moth species; use the list as a 'most likely tonight' guide and confirm any ID through iNaturalist or the Moth Photographers Group.
Top moth species per month from open-licensed GBIF records (CC0/CC-BY), aggregated over an approximate state bounding box. Butterflies excluded. GBIF download DOI: 10.15468/dl.3w3w76. Independent project; not affiliated with iNaturalist or Butterfly Conservation.