Moths in Rhode Island: What's Flying Tonight

Rhode Island packs a full New England moth season into a small state. In July you'll find the invasive spongy moth (Lymantria dispar), the green cloverworm moth (Hypena scabra), the lichen-feeding painted lichen moth (Hypoprepia fucosa), and the geometrid Macaria pustularia. May features early flyers like the eastern tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma americana) and the curve-toothed geometer (Eutrapela clemataria), while September brings the pale beauty (Campaea perlata), the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), and the introduced large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba). Run the live tool for tonight's location-specific list.

What's flying in Rhode Island right now

Despite its size, Rhode Island gets the full sweep of southern New England moths across the year. Because the mix shifts each month, the live prediction tool is the best way to see what's likely in your yard tonight.

July: high summer

Midsummer brings the most activity. July records are led by the spongy moth (Lymantria dispar), an introduced defoliating pest that periodically outbreaks across the Northeast, so don't be surprised to see a lot of them. Also common are the green cloverworm moth (Hypena scabra), the painted lichen moth (Hypoprepia fucosa), whose caterpillars graze lichen on bark, and the small geometrid Macaria pustularia. The underwing Cosmia calami rounds out a typical July sheet.

May and September: the shoulder seasons

Spring is led by the eastern tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma americana), whose silk nests appear in cherry and apple, along with the curve-toothed geometer (Eutrapela clemataria) and Athetis tarda. By September the season turns to the pale beauty (Campaea perlata), the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), whose woollybear caterpillar is a fall fixture, the large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba), and the day-flying Ailanthus webworm moth (Atteva punctella).

Local mothing tips

• Coastal humidity helps; warm, calm, overcast nights near a new moon are ideal.
• UV or mercury-vapor light pulls in far more species than a white LED porch bulb, since moths respond most strongly to short-wavelength light.
• Hang a white sheet beside the lamp; the light disrupts the moths' flight orientation and brings them in to settle where you can see them.
• New to this? See our beginner's guide and what makes a good night for moths. National Moth Week 2026 runs July 18 to 26, a perfect window here. Learn more on the National Moth Week page.

See tonight's list

For the moths likely at your address tonight plus a good-mothing-night score, run the tool or browse the state index to compare with neighbors like Massachusetts and Connecticut.