Wildlife and Wildflowers of Texas - Moths
Grapevine Epimenis Moth
The Grapevine Epimenis (Psychomorpha epimenis) is a North American moth in the family Noctuidae.
Speckled Lamplighter
Lychnosea intermicata is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in North America.
Obtuse Euchlaena Moth
Euchlaena obtusaria, the obtuse euchlaena moth, is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alberta east to Nova Scotia, south to Florida and Texas. The habitat consists of mixedwood forests.
Deep Yellow Euchlaena Moth
Euchlaena amoenaria, the deep yellow euchlaena, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in eastern North America.
Southern Flannel Moth
Megalopyge opercularis is a moth of the family Megalopygidae. It has numerous common names, including southern flannel moth for its adult form, and puss caterpillar, asp, Italian asp, woolly slug, opossum bug, puss moth, tree asp, or asp caterpillar for its larval form.
Desmia subdivisalis
Desmia subdivisalis is a moth in the Crambidae family. It was described by Grote in 1871. It is found in the West Indies, Mexico and the United States, where it has been recorded from Florida to New Mexico, Illinois, Maryland and California.
Red-tailed Specter Moth
Euerythra phasma, the red-tailed specter, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It was described by Harvey in 1876. It is found in the south-central United States, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae, the carpenterworm moth or locust borer, is a moth of the Cossidae family. It is found in North America, more specifically in southern Canada and most of the United States.
Arbela Carpenterworm Moth
Givira arbeloides is a moth in the Cossidae family. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
Grape Root Borer Moth
Vitacea polistiformis, the grape root borer, is a moth of the Sesiidae family. It is found throughout the midwest of the United States, south to Florida and Texas. It is the most serious threat to grapes in Florida.
Squash Vine Borer Moth
The squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae) is a diurnal species of sesiid moth. It is a pest that attacks wild and cultivated varieties of squash. The moth is often mistaken for a bee or wasp because of its movements, and the bright orange hindleg scales. The females typically lay their eggs at the base of leaf stalks, and the caterpillars develop and feed inside the stalk, ...more ↓
Javelin Moth
Bactra verutana, the javelin moth, is a species of moth of the Tortricidae family. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Florida, Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and Labrador. It is also found in Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Mozambique and South Africa. The habitat consists of ...more ↓
Verbena Bud Moth
Endothenia hebesana, the verbena bud moth, is a species of moth of the Tortricidae family. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, California, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. The habitat consists of black ...more ↓
Goldenrod Gall Moth
Epiblema scudderiana, the goldenrod gall moth, is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae.
Ragweed Borer Moth
Epiblema strenuana, the stem-galling moth or ragweed borer, is a moth of the Tortricidae family. It is endemic to North America, but was introduced to Australia from Mexico to control the weeds of the family Asteraceae (Xanthium occidentale, Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Parthenium hysterophorus) in 1982. It is occasionally misspelled as ...more ↓
Cotton Tipworm Moth
Crocidosema plebejana is a tortrix moth (family Tortricidae), belonging to tribe Eucosmini of subfamily Olethreutinae. It is found today all over the subtropical and tropical regions of the world and even occurs on many oceanic islands – in Polynesia and on Saint Helena for example – but has probably been accidentally introduced to much of its current range by humans. In ...more ↓
Constricted Sonia Moth
Sonia constrictana, the constricted sonia moth, is a species of moth of the Tortricidae family. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Quebec, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Dark-based Larisa Moth
Larisa is a genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Olethreutinae of the family Tortricidae. It contains only one species, Larisa subsolana, which is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, ...more ↓
Hickory Shuckworm Moth
Cydia caryana, the hickory shuckworm moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in North America.
Filbertworm Moth
Cydia latiferreana, the filbertworm moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It was formerly (and sometimes is still) separated in a monotypic genus Melissopus.
Garden Tortrix
Clepsis peritana, the garden tortrix or strawberry garden tortrix, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in Spain, Cuba, as well as North America, where it has been recorded from southern Canada throughout the United States.
Greenish Apple Moth
Clepsis virescana, the light brown apple moth, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in North America, where it is widespread in southern Canada and most of the United States. The habitat consists of shrubby open areas and aspen parkland.
Omnivorous Platynota Moth
Platynota rostrana, the omnivorous platynota moth, is a species of moth of the Tortricidae family. It is found from the United States (where it has been recorded from Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia), south through Mexico and Central America ...more ↓
Lentiginos Moth
Sparganothoides lentiginosana, the lentiginos moth, is a species of moth of the Tortricidae family. It is found in the United States from Maryland to Florida, west to Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, ranging south to Mexico in Tamaulipas and Veracruz. It is found in a wide range of habitats, ranging from urban areas to mixed pine-deciduous woodlands at low elevations.
Gaudy Sphinx
Eumorpha labruscae (gaudy sphinx) is a moth in the family Sphingidae, with a wingspan of 4 5⁄16–4 3⁄4 inches (11–12 cm). Its body and dorsal forewings are a deep green color. The dorsal hindwings have purple-blue patches, yellow borders, and a red spot near the inner margin. The underside is yellow-green and gray-purple. Like most moths in the sphingidae family, ...more ↓
Pandorus Sphinx
The Pandora sphinx moth (Eumorpha pandorus), also called the pandorus sphinx moth, is a North American moth in the family Sphingidae. It is a large, greenish gray moth with darker patches and pink edges and small pink eyespots. The underside is usually pale yellow-green or brown. It has a wingspan of 3¼–4½ inches (8.2–11.5 cm), females being slightly larger than males. ...more ↓
Vine Sphinx
Eumorpha vitis, known as the vine sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It lives from Argentina north through Central America, the West Indies, and Mexico to southern Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, and Florida. Strays north to Nebraska.
Virginia Creeper Sphinx
Darapsa myron (Virginia creeper sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It lives from Maine south to south Florida; west to North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas. It also can be found in Mexico. There are 2 or 3 broods in much of the range, and larvae can mature in as few as 3 weeks. Larvae hide on the midribs of their host leaves and are nocturnal feeders. ...more ↓
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata, also known as the white-lined sphinx or hummingbird moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. They are sometimes referred to as the hummingbird moth because of their bird-like size (2-3 inch wingspan) and flight patterns.
Tersa Sphinx
Xylophanes tersa (tersa sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found from the United States (Massachusetts south to southern Florida, west to Nebraska, New Mexico and southern Arizona), through Mexico, the West Indies and Central America and into parts of South America (including Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil). An occasional stray can be found as far ...more ↓
Snowberry Clearwing
Hemaris diffinis, the snowberry clearwing, is a moth of the order Lepidoptera, family Sphingidae. This moth is sometimes called "hummingbird moth" or "flying lobster". This moth should not be confused with the hummingbird hawk-moth of Europe.
Pawpaw Sphinx
Dolba hyloeus (pawpaw sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It ranges throughout the eastern United States from Maine south to Florida, and west to Wisconsin, eastern Oklahoma, and southern Texas.
Carolina Sphinx
Manduca sexta is a moth of the family Sphingidae present through much of the American continent.
Hagen's Sphinx
Ceratomia hageni (Hagen's sphinx, sometimes referred to as the Osage orange sphinx, is a hawk moth of the family Sphingidae.
Waved Sphinx
Ceratomia undulosa (waved sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found in the United States, and southern Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains.
Pink-spotted Hawkmoth
The pink-spotted hawkmoth or sweetpotato hornworm (Agrius cingulata syn. A. cingulatus) is a species of moth in the family Sphingidae.
Walnut Sphinx
Amorpha juglandis (walnut sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is native to North America, where it is distributed from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the United States.
Polyphemus Moth
Antheraea polyphemus (polyphemus moth) is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths. It is a tan-colored moth, with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 in). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hind wings. The eye spots give it its name – from the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The species is ...more ↓
Buck Moth
The buck moth (Hemileuca maia) is a common insect found in oak forests, stretching in the United States from the southeast to the northeast and as far west as Texas and Kansas. The larvae typically emerge in a single generation in the spring. The larvae are covered in hollow spines that are attached to a poison sac. The poison can cause symptoms ranging from itching and burning ...more ↓
Io Moth
Automeris io (Io moth) is a colorful North American moth in the family Saturniidae. It ranges from the southeast corner of Manitoba and in the southern extremes of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick in Canada, and in the US it is found from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, east of those states and down to the southern end ...more ↓
Imperial Moth
Eacles imperialis (imperial moth) is a Nearctic member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. The wingspan of an adult is between 80–175 mm (3 1⁄8 and 6 7⁄8 inches).
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes, the (eastern) black swallowtail, American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail, is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. It is the state butterfly of Oklahoma and New Jersey. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio joanae, occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to ...more ↓
Ruby-spotted Swallowtail
Papilio anchisiades, the ruby-spotted swallowtail or red-spotted swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found from southern Texas south to Argentina. Rare strays can be found up to Kansas, southeastern Arizona, and western Texas.
Eastern Giant Swallowtail
The giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is the largest butterfly in North America. It is abundant through many parts of North America and ranges south as far as Colombia and Venezuela. Though it is often valued in gardens for its striking appearance, its larval stage can be a serious pest to citrus farms, which has earned its caterpillars the names orange dog or ...more ↓
Western Giant Swallowtail
Papilio rumiko is a species of swallowtail butterfly. It is found from the south-western United States, through Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica to Panama. The northernmost record is north-eastern Colorado.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, where it is common in many different habitats. It has also been found in Olüdeniz, Turkey. It flies from spring to fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on ...more ↓
Two-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio multicaudata, the two-tailed swallowtail, is a species of the family Papilionidae found in western North America from British Columbia to Central America.
Palamedes Swallowtail
Papilio palamedes, the Palamedes swallowtail or laurel swallowtail, is a North American butterfly in the family Papilionidae.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus, the spicebush swallowtail or green-clouded butterfly, is a common black swallowtail butterfly found in North America. It has two subspecies, Papilio troilus troilus and Papilio troilus ilioneus, the latter found mainly in the Florida peninsula. The spicebush swallowtail derives its name from its most common host plant, the spicebush, ...more ↓
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor, the pipevine swallowtail or blue swallowtail, is a swallowtail butterfly found in North America and Central America. This butterfly is black with iridescent-blue hindwings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests. Caterpillars are often black or red, and feed on compatible plants of the genus ...more ↓
Polydamas Swallowtail
Battus polydamas, also known as the gold rim swallowtail, the Polydamas swallowtail or the tailless swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 10th edition of Systema Naturae, published in 1758.
Yucca Giant-skipper
Megathymus yuccae, the yucca giant-skipper, is a rare early season butterfly that is widespread across the southern United States. It belongs in the family Hesperiidae, subfamily Megathyminae.
Brazilian Skipper
Calpodes ethlius, the Brazilian skipper, larger canna leafroller or canna skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the United States from southern Florida and southern Texas, south through the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America to Argentina. Strays and temporary colonies can be found north to southern Nevada, northern Texas, ...more ↓
Purple-washed Skipper
Panoquina lucas, the purple-washed skipper, is a species of grass skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America.
Ocola Skipper
Panoquina ocola, the ocola skipper or long-winged skipper, is a species of butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in Paraguay north through tropical America and the West Indies to south Texas. Strays north to southeast Arizona, west Texas, central Missouri, Ohio, central Pennsylvania, and Long Island.
Clouded Skipper
Lerema accius, the clouded skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the United States from Georgia west to Texas, south to Florida, and south through Mexico and Central America to Venezuela and Colombia.
Julia's Skipper
Nastra julia, the Julia's skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in North America from southern Texas south to central Mexico.
Eufala Skipper
Lerodea eufala, the Eufala skipper or rice leaffolder, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from the coast of Georgia, south through Florida and west across the southern United States to southern California, south through Mexico and Central America to Patagonia. In the summer, it expands its range north to central California, North Dakota, southern ...more ↓
Bronze Roadside-Skipper
Amblyscirtes aenus, the bronze roadside skipper, is a species of grass skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Celia's Roadside-Skipper
Amblyscirtes celia (also called Celia's roadside skipper or roadside rambler) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Texas, south to north-eastern Mexico. Strays to south-western Louisiana.
Dotted Roadside-Skipper
Amblyscirtes eos, the dotted roadside skipper, is a species of grass skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Nysa Roadside-Skipper
Amblyscirtes nysa, the nysa roadside skipper, is a species of grass skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon skipper (Poanes zabulon) (sometimes called the southern dimorphic skipper) is a North American butterfly first described by the French naturalists Jean Baptiste Boisduval and John Eatton Le Conte from the state of Georgia, United States.
Fiery Skipper
The fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae and is approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The males are orange or yellow with black spots while the females are dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The caterpillars are greenish pink with a black head. The caterpillars are often considered pests and can feed on Bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, ...more ↓
Sachem
Atalopedes campestris (called the sachem in the United States) is a small skipper butterfly. It is just over 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and has orange-and-brown adults. Females are slightly larger and have paler markings on their wings compared to males.
Dotted Skipper
Hesperia attalus, the dotted skipper, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers). It was described by William Henry Edwards in 1871 and is found in North America.
Green Skipper
Hesperia viridis, the green skipper, is a species of grass skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Apache Skipper
Hesperia woodgatei, the Apache skipper, is a species of grass skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Whirlabout
Polites vibex, the whirlabout, is a butterfly in the Hesperiidae family. It is resident from the southeastern U.S. to the West Indies and Argentina, migrating northward to Ohio and Connecticut. The wingspan is 26–30 mm. It flies all year in the extreme south, and migrates north in late summer and fall.
Southern Broken-Dash
Wallengrenia otho, the southern broken dash, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from eastern Texas and the southeastern United States, south through the West Indies and Central America to Argentina. Strays can be found as far north as central Missouri, northern Kentucky and Delaware.
Dun Skipper
Euphyes vestris, the dun skipper, sedge witch or dun sedge skipper, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from Nova Scotia west across southern Canada to southern Alberta, south to Florida, the Gulf Coast and eastern Texas. There are disjunct populations in the High Plains and Rocky Mountains and along the Pacific ...more ↓
Delaware Skipper
Anatrytone logan, the Delaware skipper, is a North American butterfly. It is a member of the subfamily Hesperiinae, the grass skippers. This skipper ranges from the southern Canadian Prairies and southern Ontario through the midwestern and eastern United States.
Orange Skipperling
Copaeodes aurantiaca, the orange skipperling, is a species of grass skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Southern Skipperling
Copaeodes minima, the southern skipperling, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the United States from Arkansas east to North Carolina, south through Florida, the Gulf States, Texas, and Mexico to Panama.
Least Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitor, the least skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. They have a weak, Satyrinae-like flight.
Long-tailed Skipper
The long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus) is a spread-winged skipper butterfly found throughout tropical and subtropical South America, south to Argentina and north into the southern part of the United States of America. It cannot live in areas with prolonged frost. It is a showy butterfly, with wings of light brown tinted with iridescent blue, and two long tails ...more ↓
White-striped Longtail
Chioides albofasciatus, the white-striped longtail, is a species of dicot skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Zilpa Longtail
Chioides zilpa, the zilpa longtail, is a species of dicot skipper in the family of butterflies known as Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America, North America, and South America.
Two-barred Flasher
Astraptes fulgerator, the two-barred flasher, is a cryptic species complex in the spread-wing skipper butterfly genus Astraptes. It ranges all over the Americas, from the southern United States to northern Argentina.
Confused Cloudywing
Thorybes confusis, the confused cloudywing, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae.
Northern Cloudywing
Thorybes pylades, the northern cloudywing, is a species of the Hesperiidae family.
Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus, the silver-spotted skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is claimed to be the most recognized skipper in North America. E. clarus occurs in fields, gardens, and at forest edges and ranges from southern Canada throughout most of the United States to northern Mexico, but is absent in the Great Basin and western Texas.
Sickle-winged Skipper
Achlyodes mithridates, the sickle-winged skipper or Jung's dusky wing, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Argentina, north through tropical America and the West Indies to southern Texas. A regular stray north to central Texas, rarely to Arkansas and Kansas.
False Duskywing
Gesta invisus, the false duskywing, is a species of spread-wing skipper in the family Hesperiidae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler and Herbert Druce in 1872 and is found in Central and North America.
Funereal Duskywing
Erynnis funeralis, the funereal duskywing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, south to Argentina and Chile. Strays can be found north up to northern Illinois, north-eastern Nebraska, central Colorado, southern Nevada and central California.
Horace's Duskywing
Erynnis horatius, the Horace's duskywing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Massachusetts, west to eastern South Dakota, south through most of the eastern United States to Florida, the Gulf Coast, and southern Texas, south in the west through south-eastern Utah, Colorado, north-eastern Arizona, and New Mexico.
Juvenal's Duskywing
Erynnis juvenalis, the Juvenal's duskywing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.
Meridian Duskywing
Erynnis meridianus, the meridian duskywing, is a species of spread-wing skipper in the Hesperiidae family of butterflies. It is found in Central America and North America.
Texas Powdered Skipper
Systasea pulverulenta, the Texas powdered skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in North America from southern and western Texas, south through Mexico to Guatemala in Central America.
