Moths in South Carolina: What's Flying Tonight

South Carolina has one of the South's richest moth seasons, with big showy silk moths and hawk moths. In July you'll find the imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), the rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), the day-flying snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), and the Ailanthus webworm moth (Atteva punctella). May features the luna moth (Actias luna), the forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria), and the white-marked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma), while September brings the fall webworm moth (Hyphantria cunea) and the banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris). Run the live tool for tonight's list at your exact spot.

What's flying in South Carolina right now

South Carolina's long warm season and mix of Piedmont and coastal plain habitats make it a standout for showy moths. Because the lineup changes through the year, the live prediction tool is the fastest way to see what's likely near you tonight.

July: silk moths and clearwings

Midsummer is the headline season. July records are led by the imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), a large yellow-and-purple silk moth, and the rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), the pink-and-yellow favorite of porch lights. Both are giant silk moths whose adults have no functional mouthparts and do not feed, living only a week or two to mate. You'll also find the day-flying snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), which hovers at flowers like a small bumblebee, and the day-active Ailanthus webworm moth (Atteva punctella).

May and September: the shoulder seasons

Spring brings the luna moth (Actias luna), the pale green silk moth whose long hindwing tails are thought to confuse bat echolocation, along with the forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria) and the white-marked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma). Note that white-marked tussock caterpillars have irritating hairs, so don't handle them. By September the season turns to the fall webworm moth (Hyphantria cunea), the banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris), and the velvetbean caterpillar moth (Anticarsia gemmatalis), a southern migrant.

Local mothing tips

• Warm, humid, calm nights near a new moon are best, and South Carolina supplies plenty of them.
• UV or mercury-vapor light draws far more species than a white LED bulb; moths respond most strongly to short-wavelength light.
• For the big silk moths, check lights in the first hours after dark, when freshly emerged adults are most active.
• New to this? See our beginner's guide, read about luna moth season, or look up the luna moth species 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 North Carolina and Georgia.