Moths in Minnesota: What's Flying Tonight

What's flying in Minnesota tonight depends on the season. In July your lights pull the Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria), the day-active Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica), the big-bodied Pachysphinx modesta sphinx, and even the large tan Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus). In spring, May brings the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americana) and early owlets like Orthosia hibisci, while September swaps in the woolly-bear Pyrrharctia isabella, the Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), and the striking white-and-black underwing Catocala relicta.

What's flying right now in Minnesota

Minnesota's moth season runs from the first warm spring nights through fall, and the lineup shifts month to month. For tonight's most likely species at your exact spot, open the live predictor - it reads open GBIF records for your location and date.

Summer (July) moths in Minnesota

Midsummer is the richest stretch. Frequent July flyers include:

• Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria) - a stout brown moth whose caterpillars famously mass on aspen and other hardwoods in northern Minnesota
• Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica) - a metallic blue-bodied, dark-winged moth often seen by day on flowers
• Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) - a giant tan silk moth with big purple-rimmed eyespots. Like all giant silk moths, the adult has no working mouthparts and never eats; it lives only a week or two to mate.
• Pachysphinx modesta (Modest Sphinx) - a large, fast-flying hawk moth that, unlike the silk moths, does nectar as an adult
• Hypoprepia fucosa, Gluphisia septentrionis, and Campaea perlata round out a typical July sheet

Spring (May) moths in Minnesota

May is a quieter, cooler month dominated by early-season specialists: the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americana), the early owlet Orthosia hibisci, the geometrid Anticlea vasiliata, and the first-flight Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica). Numbers build steadily as nights warm.

Fall (September) moths in Minnesota

Autumn brings the woolly bears and underwings. Look for Pyrrharctia isabella (the Isabella Tiger Moth, whose fuzzy "woolly bear" caterpillar is a fall icon), the Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), and the dramatic black-and-white Catocala relicta, an underwing that rests camouflaged on pale birch bark. The geometrid Lambdina fiscellaria is also common late.

Local mothing tips

• Northern Minnesota's boreal edge adds species you won't find further south - it's worth chasing dark-sky nights up north.
• UV or mercury-vapor lights beat white LED bulbs. Moths come to short-wavelength light because it disrupts how they hold a flight angle, not because they're drawn to it as a target.
• Hang a white sheet behind the light and check it through the night.
• Warm, calm, humid, moonless nights are best - use the good-night-for-moths guide.
• New to it? See mothing for beginners, and time a session during National Moth Week, July 18-26, 2026.

Explore other states from the moth index, or compare with Wisconsin.