Moth species guide
The showy, often-searched moths of North America - what they look like, where they live, and when they fly, from 25 species with real sighting data. Found one and want a name? How to identify a moth. Curious what's out near you tonight? Open the live tool.
- Ailanthus Webworm Moth Atteva punctellaAttevidae · peak Jul Aug Sep Oct · 6,627 records
The Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva punctella) is a small, colorful day-active moth flying July to October, common in Texas, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.
- White-lined Sphinx Hyles lineataSphingidae · peak Mar Apr May Aug Sep · 5,789 records
The White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata) is a fast hawk moth that hovers at flowers at dusk. Learn to identify it, where it lives, and when it flies.
- Spongy Moth Lymantria disparErebidae · peak Jun Jul · 5,561 records
The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) is an invasive defoliating pest in North America. Learn to identify it, where it lives, when it flies, and why it matters.
- Banded Tussock Moth Halysidota tessellarisErebidae · peak Jul Aug Sep · 4,805 records
The Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris) is a pale yellow moth with teal-and-black stripes. Learn ID, range across NY and Virginia, and when it flies at night.
- Polyphemus Moth Antheraea polyphemusSaturniidae · peak Jun Jul Aug · 4,411 records
The polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a tan silk moth with large eyespots. Learn how to identify it, where it lives, and when it flies at night.
- Virginian Tiger Moth Spilosoma virginicaErebidae · peak Jun Jul Aug Sep · 4,357 records
The Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) is a pure-white moth common across New York, Virginia and Texas. Learn to identify it, where it lives and when it flies at night.
- Salt Marsh Moth Estigmene acreaErebidae · peak Apr May Sep · 4,301 records
The Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) is a common white tiger moth across Texas, California and Florida. Learn how to identify it, where it lives and when it flies at night.
- Luna Moth Actias lunaSaturniidae · peak May Jun Jul Aug · 4,290 records
The luna moth (Actias luna) is a pale green silk moth with long hindwing tails. Learn how to identify it, where it lives, and when it flies at night.
- Hickory Tussock Moth Lophocampa caryaeErebidae · peak Jun Aug Sep · 3,970 records
The Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae) has a famous black-and-white caterpillar. Learn ID, range across NY and Vermont, and when the adult flies at night.
- Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth Malacosoma disstriaLasiocampidae · peak Apr May Jun Jul · 3,406 records
The forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria) is a tan native moth whose larvae mass-feed on hardwoods. Learn how to identify it, where, and when it flies.
- Snowberry Clearwing Hemaris diffinisSphingidae · peak Jul Aug · 2,826 records
The Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is a bumblebee-like day-flying sphinx moth that hovers at flowers. Learn how to identify it and when it appears.
- Rosy Maple Moth Dryocampa rubicundaSaturniidae · peak Jun Jul · 2,673 records
The rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) is a small pink-and-yellow silk moth. Learn how to identify it, where it lives, and when it flies at night.
- Virginia Ctenucha Ctenucha virginicaErebidae · peak Jun Jul · 2,621 records
The Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica) is a day-flying wasp moth with a metallic blue body, common June to July in New York, Vermont, Michigan and Wisconsin.
- Giant Leopard Moth Hypercompe scriboniaErebidae · peak Jun Jul Sep Oct · 2,609 records
The giant leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia) is a big white tiger moth with bold black rings. Learn to identify it, where it lives, and when it flies at night.
- White-marked Tussock Moth Orgyia leucostigmaErebidae · peak Jun Jul Aug Sep · 2,274 records
The White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma) has a flightless female and a famous tufted caterpillar. Learn ID, range across NC and NY, and when it flies at night.
- Io Moth Automeris ioSaturniidae · peak Jun · 2,168 records
The io moth (Automeris io) is a silk moth with big blue-black hindwing eyespots and stinging caterpillars. Learn to identify it, its range, and its season.
- American Dagger Moth Acronicta americanaNoctuidae · peak Jul Aug Sep · 2,059 records
The American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana) is a gray North American owlet moth flying July to September, common in New York, Virginia and North Carolina.
- Virginia Creeper Sphinx Darapsa myronSphingidae · peak Jun Jul Aug · 2,058 records
The Virginia creeper sphinx (Darapsa myron) is a small olive-green hawk moth of vineyards and woods. Learn how to identify it, where it lives, and when it flies.
- Hummingbird Clearwing Hemaris thysbeSphingidae · peak Jul Aug · 2,033 records
The Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) is a day-flying sphinx moth that hovers at flowers like a tiny hummingbird. Learn to identify it and when it appears.
- Carolina Sphinx Manduca sextaSphingidae · peak Jul Aug Sep · 1,957 records
The Carolina sphinx (Manduca sexta) is a big gray hawk moth whose larva is the tobacco hornworm. See where and when it flies, plus night-light tips.
- Imperial Moth Eacles imperialisSaturniidae · peak Jul Aug · 1,633 records
The Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) is a huge yellow-and-purple silk moth that flies July to August across the Southeast. Learn how to identify and find one.
- Cecropia Moth Hyalophora cecropiaSaturniidae · peak May Jun · 1,089 records
The cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia) is North America's largest native moth. Learn to identify it, where it lives, and when this giant silk moth flies.
- Black Witch Moth Ascalapha odorataErebidae · peak Jun Jul Aug Sep · 748 records
The Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata) is a huge dark tropical migrant that strays north mostly in late summer, reaching Texas, Florida, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.
- Ornate Bella Moth Utetheisa ornatrixErebidae · peak Mar May Oct Nov Dec · 561 records
The Ornate Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) is a small pink-and-orange day-flying tiger moth of the Southeast, common in Florida, Georgia, Texas and the Carolinas.
- Regal (Hickory Horned Devil) Moth Citheronia regalisSaturniidae · peak Jul Aug · 422 records
The Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis) is a giant gray-and-orange silk moth whose caterpillar is the harmless Hickory Horned Devil. See how to identify and find it.
Data: open-licensed GBIF occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY); butterflies excluded. Months and states show where each species is most recorded, not a complete range.