Moths in Georgia

In Georgia, the moths you're most likely to find at a light depend heavily on the month, but a handful of species show up again and again in open records. The Luna Moth (Actias luna) is one of the state's most reliably recorded big silkmoths, appearing from late winter all the way into fall. Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is so widely logged it even turns up in January and February records. By high summer, the Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) becomes Georgia's single most-recorded moth, joined by the Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) and the spiny green Io Moth (Automeris io). Day-active Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), a hummingbird-mimic sphinx, is common from June through fall. Other Georgia regulars include the Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia), Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), the bright orange-and-black Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva punctella), and Carolina Sphinx (Manduca sexta). These are the most-recorded species over an approximate Georgia area from open-licensed GBIF data, so think of it as "most likely," not a complete checklist.

When do the big silkmoths fly in Georgia?

Georgia's showstoppers are its giant silkmoths (family Saturniidae), and the records show a clear handoff through the year. Luna Moth (Actias luna) is the early arrival, already appearing in February records and peaking through April and May. Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) overlaps with it from late winter into spring. Then summer belongs to the heavy hitters: by July the Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) is the most-recorded moth in the entire Georgia dataset, with the Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) and the green, eyespotted Io Moth (Automeris io) flying alongside it in June and July. The Tuliptree Silkmoth (Callosamia angulifera) also shows up in the April-May spring window. If you want the best odds at a silkmoth at your porch light, late spring through midsummer is the sweet spot in Georgia.

What changes between spring, midsummer, and fall?

This is where Georgia's lineup really shifts month to month.

Late winter (January-February) is dominated by small, cold-tolerant geometers: Phigalia denticulata and Phigalia strigataria (the early "fall cankerworm" relatives), Iridopsis defectaria, and the fall cankerworm moth Alsophila pometaria. Polyphemus and the first Luna Moths sneak into February records.

Spring (March-May) explodes with tent caterpillar moths: Malacosoma americana (Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth) is the single most-recorded species in March and April, with the Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria) close behind. The Tulip-tree Beauty (Epimecis hortaria) becomes a constant, and Luna numbers climb to their yearly peak in May. The day-flying Malthaca dimidiata (a leaf-skeletonizer) also surges in late spring.

Midsummer (July-August) is the richest stretch. The Imperial Moth peaks, and you start seeing the bright Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva punctella), the fuzzy Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Nadata gibbosa (White-dotted Prominent), and the big-bodied sphinxes including Carolina Sphinx (Manduca sexta) and Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis). The stinging Acharia stimulea (Saddleback Caterpillar Moth) and slug moths like Lithacodes fasciola appear too.

Fall (September-November) flips toward tiger moths and woolly bears. Banded Tussock Moth tops September, the American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana) and Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) join in, and by October-November you get the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) — the adult of the famous woolly bear caterpillar — plus the Yellow-collared Scape Moth (Cisseps fulvicollis) and the velvet-bean moth Anticarsia gemmatalis. December thins back out to Hypena scabra and a few hardy geometers.

Which charismatic Georgia moths should I watch for?

Beyond the silkmoths above, Georgia's open records are full of standouts worth recognizing:

• Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) — striking white with hollow black rings, recorded spring through fall.
• Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) — a day-flying sphinx that hovers like a bumblebee-colored hummingbird; common June onward.
• Virginia Creeper Sphinx (Darapsa myron) and Carolina Sphinx (Manduca sexta) — classic Georgia hawkmoths.
• Ornate Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) — a pink-and-orange day-flier that lingers into late fall.
• Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) — the pink-and-yellow "cotton candy" moth, peaking in summer.

How is this Georgia list built?

These are the most-recorded moth species drawn from open-licensed (CC0/CC-BY) GBIF observation records, aggregated over an approximate Georgia bounding box, with butterflies excluded. It reflects what people have actually photographed and logged, so well-watched and easily-noticed species are over-represented, and rarer or harder-to-spot moths may be undercounted. Treat it as a "most likely tonight" guide, not an exhaustive state checklist.

We're a forecast and discovery tool, not an identifier. If you want to confirm a species from a photo, iNaturalist and the Moth Photographers Group / BugGuide are the right next stop.

How do I get tonight's personalized Georgia list?

Enter your location and our tool pulls the species most likely flying near you right now, weighted by month, and pairs it with a "good mothing night" score built from tonight's weather and moon. Warm, still, humid, overcast nights around a new moon tend to score highest — those are the nights a sheet and a light are most likely to bring in Georgia's silkmoths and sphinxes. Check your local forecast through the tool to plan the best night this week.