Moths and Butterflies of Massachusetts
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa, known as the mourning cloak in North America and the Camberwell beauty in Britain, is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis, the Canadian tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It was once classified as a subspecies of Papilio glaucus.
Northern Cloudywing
Thorybes pylades, the northern cloudywing, is a species of the Hesperiidae family.
Southern Cloudywing
Thorybes bathyllus, the southern cloudywing (sometimes spelled southern cloudy wing), is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. Southern cloudywings can be difficult to identify because of individual variation and confusing seasonal forms. In the south, where it has two broods per year, two seasonal forms occur. Spring forms are usually lightly marked and ...more ↓
Dreamy Duskywing
Erynnis icelus, the dreamy duskywing or aspen dusky wing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in boreal North America, from the Northwest Territories east across southern Canada to Nova Scotia, south in the western mountains to southern Arizona and southern New Mexico, south in the east to Arkansas, north-eastern Alabama and northern Georgia.
Sleepy Duskywing
Erynnis brizo, the sleepy duskywing or banded oak duskywing, is a species of Hesperiidae butterfly that occurs throughout North America and is commonly confused with E. juvenalis and E. lucilius. The species is listed as threatened in Connecticut.
Juvenal's Duskywing
Erynnis juvenalis, the Juvenal's duskywing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.
Mottled Duskywing
Erynnis martialis, the mottled duskywing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in most of the eastern United States and in southern Ontario, Quebec, and southeastern Manitoba.
Columbine Duskywing
Erynnis lucilius, the columbine duskywing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from southern Quebec to Manitoba and south to the northeastern United States.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Erynnis baptisiae, the wild indigo duskywing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from southern New England and southern Ontario west to central Nebraska, south to Georgia, the Gulf Coast, and south-central Texas.
Common Sootywing
Pholisora catullus, the common sootywing or roadside rambler, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the central parts of the United States, south to central Mexico. Strays may colonize up to southern British Columbia, northern Michigan, southern Quebec and southern Maine. It is not found on peninsular Florida.
Least Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitor, the least skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. They have a weak, Satyrinae-like flight.
Essex Skipper
The Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola) is a butterfly in family Hesperiidae. In North America, it is known as the European skipper.
Leonard's Skipper
Hesperia leonardus, the Leonard's skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. There are three subspecies. Next to the nominate species, these are the Pawnee skipper (ssp. pawnee), which is found in North America from western Montana and south-eastern Saskatchewan east to Minnesota, south to central Colorado and Kansas. Leonard's skipper ranges from ...more ↓
Crossline Skipper
Polites origenes, the crossline skipper, is a butterfly in the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the eastern United States, excepting Florida, southern Ontario, and Quebec.
Tawny-edged Skipper
Polites themistocles, the tawny-edged skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae.
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.
Broad-winged Skipper
Poanes viator, the broad-winged skipper, is a skipper butterfly found in North America.
Long Dash
Polites mystic, the long dash or long dash skipper, is a species of butterfly. The species is commonly found in north of North America and in mountains in the south of North America, in grassy habitats. The grassy areas include meadows, marshes, streamsides, wood edges, and prairie swales. On the top, the species has dark brown reddish to yellowish-orange markings. ...more ↓
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 ↓
Dusted Skipper
Atrytonopsis hianna, the dusted skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the United States from eastern Wyoming, central Colorado, northern New Mexico and central Texas east to New Hampshire and Massachusetts, south to peninsular Florida and the Gulf Coast.
Common Roadside-Skipper
Amblyscirtes vialis (the common roadside skipper) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from British Columbia east across southern Canada to Maine and Nova Scotia, south to central California, northern New Mexico, Texas, the Gulf states and northern Florida.
Dion Skipper
Euphyes dion, the Dion skipper or Alabama skipper, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in scattered populations along the Atlantic coast of North America, from western Massachusetts and south-eastern New York south to north-eastern Florida, west to north-eastern Texas, and north to south-eastern North Dakota, northern Wisconsin, ...more ↓
Black Dash
Euphyes conspicua, the black dash, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. The species was first described by William Henry Edwards in 1863. It is found in the upper Midwest of North America, from eastern Nebraska east to southern Ontario and along the central Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts south to south-eastern Virginia.
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 ↓
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 ↓
Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice, the common sulphur or clouded sulphur, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.
Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme, the orange sulphur, also known as the alfalfa butterfly and in its larval stage as the alfalfa caterpillar, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae, where it belongs to the lowland group of "clouded yellows and sulphurs" subfamily Coliadinae. It is found throughout North America from southern Canada to Mexico, but is absent from the central ...more ↓
Striped Hairstreak
Satyrium liparops, the striped hairstreak, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in North America, from the Rocky Mountains south from southern Canada to Colorado, east to Maine and south to Florida.
Brown Elfin
Callophrys augustinus, the brown elfin, is butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from Newfoundland north and west through the northern United States and the prairie provinces to Alaska. To the south it ranges in Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and northern Alabama, further south through the western mountains to northern Baja California in Mexico. ...more ↓
Eastern Pine Elfin
Callophrys niphon, the eastern pine elfin, is a species of Lycaenidae that is native to North America.
Spring Azure
Celastrina ladon, the spring azure, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in North America from Alaska and Canada south of the tundra, through most of the United States except the Texas coast, southern plain and peninsula Florida; south in the mountains to Colombia.
American Snout
The American snout or common snout butterfly (Libytheana carinenta) is a member of the Libytheinae subfamily, in the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. This species is found in both North and South America. The larval host plants are Celtis species on which the eggs are laid singly. Massive migrations of this species often attract attention in the Texas and ...more ↓
Aphrodite Fritillary
The Aphrodite fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite) is a fritillary butterfly, from North America.
Meadow Fritillary
Boloria bellona, the meadow fritillary, is a North American butterfly in the brushfoot family, Nymphalidae. The common name, meadow fritillary, is also used for a European butterfly species, Melitaea parthenoides.
Harris's Checkerspot
Chlosyne harrisii, or Harris's checkerspot, is a member of the Nymphalidae family that is found in North America. They range from the Canadian Atlantic provinces, excluding Newfoundland and Labrador, to Manitoba and North Dakota south to West Virginia and Ohio. They can often be seen in bogs, meadows and almost anywhere else its host plant occurs. The typical elevations ...more ↓
Northern Crescent
Phyciodes cocyta, the northern crescent, is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in the Nearctic realm.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton”) is a North American butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It has been the official state insect of the U.S. State of Maryland since 1973.
Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis, the question mark, is a North American nymphalid butterfly. It lives in wooded areas, city parks, generally in areas with a combination of trees and open space. The color and textured appearance of the underside of its wings combine to provide camouflage that resembles a dead leaf. The adult butterfly has a wingspan of 4.5–7.6 cm (1.8–3.0 in). ...more ↓
Gray Comma
Polygonia progne, the gray comma or grey comma, is a species of Polygonia that occurs in North America.
American White Admiral
Limenitis arthemis, the white admiral or red-spotted purple, is part of the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis. It has been studied for its evolution of mimicry, and for the several stable hybrid wing patterns within this nominal species; it is one of the most dramatic examples of hybridization between non-mimetic and mimetic populations.
Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis, the white admiral or red-spotted purple, is part of the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis. It has been studied for its evolution of mimicry, and for the several stable hybrid wing patterns within this nominal species; it is one of the most dramatic examples of hybridization between non-mimetic and mimetic populations.
Viceroy
The viceroy (Limenitis archippus) is a North American butterfly that ranges through most of the contiguous United States as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. The westernmost portion of its range extends from the Northwest Territories along the eastern edges of the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada mountains, southwards into central Mexico. Its easternmost range extends along the ...more ↓
Tawny Emperor
Asterocampa clyton, the tawny emperor, is a species of brush-footed butterfly. It is native to North America, especially the eastern half from Canada to northern Mexico. The tawny emperor should not be mistaken for a very similar Asterocampa butterfly, the hackberry emperor, which can be distinguished by the white
Little Wood Satyr
Megisto cymela, the little wood satyr, is a species of Satyrinae that occurs in North America.
Common Wood-Nymph
The common wood-nymph (Cercyonis pegala) is a North American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is also known as the wood-nymph, grayling, blue-eyed grayling, and the goggle eye.
Lucerne Moth
Nomophila nearctica, the lucerne moth, clover nomophila, false webworm, celery stalkworm or American celery webworm, is a moth of the Crambidae family. It is known from southern Canada and all of the United States, south to Mexico and the Neotropics.
Checkered White
Pontia protodice, the checkered white or southern cabbage butterfly, is a common North American butterfly in the family Pieridae. Its green larva is a type of cabbage worm.
Apical Prominent
Clostera apicalis, known generally as the apical prominent or red-marked tentmaker, is a species of prominent moth in the family Notodontidae. It is found in North America.
Celery Looper Moth
The Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found from Newfoundland, Labrador and Southern Canada to Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Redbud Leaffolder Moth
Fascista cercerisella (redbud leaffolder) is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in the United States from Pennsylvania and Maryland, south to Florida, west to Texas, north to Kansas.
Isabella Tiger Moth
Pyrrharctia isabella, the isabella tiger moth or woollybear, occurs in the United States and southern Canada. It was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797.
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 ↓
Red-spotted Admiral
Limenitis arthemis, the white admiral or red-spotted purple, is part of the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis. It has been studied for its evolution of mimicry, and for the several stable hybrid wing patterns within this nominal species; it is one of the most dramatic examples of hybridization between non-mimetic and mimetic populations.
Orange-patched Smoky Moth
Pyromorpha dimidiata, the orange-patched smoky moth, is a species of leaf skeletonizer moth of the Zygaenidae family found in eastern North America.
Grapevine Epimenis Moth
The Grapevine Epimenis (Psychomorpha epimenis) is a North American moth in the family Noctuidae.
Winter Moth
The winter moth (Operophtera brumata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is an abundant species of Europe and the Near East and one of very few Lepidoptera of temperate regions in which adults are active in late fall and early winter. The female of this species is virtually wingless and cannot fly, but the male is fully winged and flies strongly. After the initial frosts of ...more ↓
Virginian Tiger Moth
Spilosoma virginica is a species of moth in the Arctiinae subfamily. As a caterpillar, it is known as the yellow woolly bear or yellow bear caterpillar. As an adult, it is known as the Virginia tiger moth.
Agreeable Tiger Moth
The agreeable tiger moth (Spilosoma congrua) is one of three species of white tiger moth which are common in the United States. It has pronounced black eyes, white abdomen, and orange "bib" which set it apart from its cousin the Virginia tiger moth. Like its cousin, it tents its wings when at rest.
Common Bagworm Moth
Psyche casta is a nocturnal moth from the family Psychidae, the bagworm moths. The wingspan of the males ranges from 12 to 15 millimeters. The females do not have wings.
Black Witch
The erebid moth Ascalapha odorata, commonly known as the black witch moth, is a large bat-shaped, dark-colored nocturnal moth, found from Brazil until the southern United States. It is the largest noctuid found in the continental United States. In the folklore of many cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean, it is associated with death or misfortune.
Carolina Sphinx
Manduca sexta is a moth of the family Sphingidae present through much of the American continent.
Rusty Tussock Moth
Orgyia antiqua, the rusty tussock moth or vapourer, is a moth in the family Erebidae.
Carrot Seed Moth
Sitochroa palealis is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is found in Europe. Recently introduced in the United States. The first specimen was reported in 2002.
Silvery Checkerspot
Chlosyne nycteis, the silvery checkerspot, is a species of Nymphalinae butterfly that occurs in North America. It is listed as a species of special concern and believed extirpated in the US state of Connecticut.
Giant Leopard Moth
The giant leopard moth or eyed tiger moth (Hypercompe scribonia) is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is distributed throughout the Americas from southern Ontario, and southern and eastern United States through New England, Mexico and down to Panama. The obsolete name Ecpantheria scribonia is still occasionally encountered.
Atlantis Fritillary
Speyeria atlantis, the Atlantis fritillary, is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family of North America. It is from the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador to northern British Columbia, across the northern United States south as far as Colorado and West Virginia. It resides as far north as James Bay.
Cranberry Fruitworm Moth
Acrobasis vaccinii, the cranberry fruitworm, is a moth of the family Pyralidae described by Charles Valentine Riley in 1884. It is found in North America from Nova Scotia to Florida and from Wisconsin to Texas, it is introduced in the state of Washington.
Common Gray
Anavitrinella pampinaria, the common gray, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in most of North America except the arctic regions, south to Mexico.
Pointed Sallow
Epiglaea apiata, the Pointed Sallow Moth or Cranberry blossom worm, is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Brunswick, North Carolina, Ohio, Quebec, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
Common Hyppa Moth
Hyppa xylinoides, known generally as the common hyppa or cranberry cutworm, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.
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 ↓
Spotted Tussock Moth
Lophocampa maculata (spotted tussock moth, mottled tiger or spotted halisidota) is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found across Canada, the western parts of the United States, south in Appalachians to South Carolina and Kentucky.
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia, the variegated fritillary, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Even though the variegated fritillary has some very different characteristics from the Speyeria fritillaries, it is still closely related to them. Some of the differences are: variegated fritillaries have two or three broods per year vs. one per year in ...more ↓
Green Comma
Polygonia faunus, the green comma or Faunus anglewing is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in North America.
Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis, the hackberry emperor, is a North American butterfly that belongs to the family of brushfooted butterflies, Nymphalidae. It gets its name from the hackberry tree (Celtis occidentalis and others in the Celtis genus) upon which it lays its eggs. The hackberry tree is the only host plant for A. celtis and is the food source for ...more ↓
Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Aglais milberti, the fire-rim tortoiseshell or Milbert's tortoiseshell, is the only species of Aglais that occurs in North America.
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 ↓
Falcate Orangetip
Anthocharis midea, the falcate orangetip, is a North American butterfly that was described in 1809 by Jacob Hübner. It belongs to the family Pieridae, which is the white and sulphurs. These butterflies are mostly seen in the eastern United States, and in Texas and Oklahoma. They eat the nectar of violets and mustards. They tend to live in open, wet woods along waterways, ...more ↓
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.
Edwards' Hairstreak
Satyrium edwardsii, the Edwards' hairstreak, is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the eastern parts of the United States and in the southern parts of the Canadian provinces from Saskatchewan to Quebec.
Promethea Silkmoth
Callosamia promethea, commonly known as the promethea silkmoth, is a member of the Saturniidae family, which contains approximately 1,300 species. It is also known as the spicebush silkmoth, which refers to is one of the promethea silkmoth's common host plants, spicebush (Lindera benzoin). C. promethea is classified as a silk moth, which stems from ...more ↓
Cecropia Moth
Hyalophora cecropia (cecropia moth) is North America's largest native moth. It is a member of the Saturniidae family, or giant silk moths. Females with a wingspan of six inches (160 mm) or more have been documented. It is found as far west as California and north into the majority of Canadian provinces. The larvae of these moths are most commonly found on maple trees, but ...more ↓
Orange-tipped Oakworm Moth
Anisota senatoria, the orangestriped oakworm, also known as the orange-tipped oakworm, is a Nearctic moth of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. It is one of the more common Saturniids, reaching pest status occasionally in the northern parts of its range. As they are late-season feeders, however, they do little lasting damage to their hosts (most ...more ↓
Pink-striped Oakworm Moth
Anisota virginiensis, the pink-striped oakworm moth, is a species of silk moth of the family Saturniidae.
Spiny Oakworm Moth
Anisota stigma, the spiny oakworm moth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. It is found in North America from Massachusetts and southern Ontario to Florida, west to Minnesota, Kansas and Texas.
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).
Horned Spanworm Moth
Nematocampa resistaria, commonly known as the filament bearer, bordered thorn or horned spanworm moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, south to Florida and California.
Bristly Cutworm Moth
The Kidney-spotted Minor or Bristly Cutworm (Lacinipolia renigera) is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is endemic to most of North America with the exception of Yukon and Alaska.
Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth
The forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria) is a North American moth found throughout the United States and Canada, especially in the eastern regions.
White-marked Tussock Moth
The white-marked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma) is a moth in the family Erebidae. The caterpillar is very common especially in late summer in eastern North America, extending as far west as Texas, Colorado, and Alberta. Also found in Europe and Taiwan.
Unspotted Looper Moth
The Unspotted Looper Moth or Copper Looper Moth (Allagrapha aerea) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in eastern North America from southern Ontario to the panhandle of Florida and west to western Nebraska.
