Moths in Mississippi: What's Flying Tonight

In Mississippi the moths flying tonight shift with the season. Warm July nights bring the big Catocala maestosa underwing, the day-flying Acontia leo, aquatic-larva moths like Elophila obliteralis and Samea multiplicalis, and the Virginia Creeper Sphinx (Darapsa myron). In May you can still catch the pale-green Luna Moth (Actias luna) and the Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria), while September brings the wasp-mimic Cosmosoma myrodora, the webbing Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea), and the dark sphinx Enyo lugubris.

What's flying right now in Mississippi

Mississippi's long, warm season means moths fly across much of the year, and the species turn over by month. For tonight's most likely flyers at your exact location, open the live predictor - it uses open GBIF records for your coordinates and date.

Summer (July) moths in Mississippi

Midsummer is busy and humid - great mothing weather. Typical July visitors include:

• Catocala maestosa - a large underwing moth that hides drab forewings over boldly patterned hindwings, resting camouflaged on tree bark
• Acontia leo - a crisp black-and-white owlet often active by day
• Virginia Creeper Sphinx (Darapsa myron) - a hawk moth that, like other sphinxes, feeds on nectar as an adult and flies strongly
• Elophila obliteralis and Samea multiplicalis - small "china-mark" and aquatic moths tied to ponds and wetlands
• Caloptilia triadicae and Marimatha nigrofimbria - tiny but frequent on the sheet

Spring (May) moths in Mississippi

Spring is your best shot at the showstopper: the Luna Moth (Actias luna), a pale-green giant silk moth with long, sweeping hindwing tails thought to confuse bat sonar. The adult never feeds and lives only about a week, so plan a May night to catch one. You'll also see the Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria), the Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea), and the woolly-bear adult Pyrrharctia isabella.

Fall (September) moths in Mississippi

Late summer into fall brings wasp-mimics and webworms: the red-and-black Cosmosoma myrodora (Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth), more Hyphantria cunea spinning their communal webs on hardwoods, the prominent moth Datana major, and the small, dark sphinx Enyo lugubris. The Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva punctella) - a slim orange day-flier tied to tree-of-heaven - is common too.

Local mothing tips

• Mississippi's wetlands and bottomlands add aquatic-larva moths you won't see in drier states - try sites near ponds and slow water.
• UV or mercury-vapor lights pull far more than a white LED bulb. Moths come to short-wavelength light because it disrupts their flight orientation, not because they seek it out.
• Hang a white sheet behind the light and watch through the warm, humid hours.
• Pick a calm, moonless night - see the good-night-for-moths guide.
• New to mothing? Start with mothing for beginners, and read up on luna moth season before spring. Time a session during National Moth Week, July 18-26, 2026.

See other states in the moth index, or compare with Louisiana.