Moths and Butterflies of Massachusetts
Little White Lichen Moth
Clemensia albata, the little white lichen moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It was described by Packard in 1864. It is found in eastern North America, west across boreal Canada to south-eastern British Columbia. The range extends along the Pacific Coast south to Monterey Bay in west-central California. The habitat consists of moist forests, including coastal ...more ↓
Spotted Grass Moth
The Spotted Grass Moth or Yellow Snout-moth (Rivula propinqualis) is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found throughout eastern North America from southern Canada southward to Florida and Texas and westward in the north to British Columbia and Washington. In North Carolina it is found from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic coast.
Olive Arches Moth
Lacinipolia olivacea, the olive arch, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.
Milkweed Tussock Moth
Euchaetes egle, the milkweed tussock caterpillar or milkweed tiger moth, is a moth in the family Erebidae. It is a common mid- through late-summer feeder on milkweeds and dogbane. Like most species in this family, it has chemical defenses it acquires from its host plants, in this case, cardiac glycosides (Weller et al., 1999). These are retained in adults and deter ...more ↓
Smith's Dart
Xestia smithii, or Smith's dart, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Pieter Cornelius Tobias Snellen in 1896. It is found across northern North America from Newfoundland to Alaska. In the eastern United States it occurs from Maine to Virginia and south along the Appalachians to North Carolina. In the west it is found in the Black Hills in ...more ↓
Large Lace-border Moth
Scopula limboundata, the large lace-border, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Haworth in 1809. It is found in North America east of the Rocky Mountains. There is a single and unconfirmed record from Great Britain.
Pale Beauty
Campaea perlata, the pale beauty, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. The average wingspan is about 28–51 mm, and the female tends to be much larger than the male.
Sparganothis Fruitworm Moth
The sparganothis fruitworm moth or blueberry leafroller (Sparganothis sulfureana) is a species of moth of the Tortricidae family. It is found in most of eastern North America and on Cuba.
Purple-backed Cabbageworm Moth
Evergestis pallidata is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is found in Europe, North America and Northern Asia.
Large Yellow Underwing
The large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba) is a moth, the type species for the family Noctuidae. It is an abundant species throughout the Palearctic ecozone, one of the most common and most familiar moths of the region. In some years the species is highly migratory with large numbers appearing suddenly in marginal parts of the range.
Gold-striped Leaftier Moth
The gold-striped leaftier moth (Machimia tentoriferella) is a moth of the Depressariidae family. It is found in North America from Nova Scotia to North Carolina and Tennessee, west to Mississippi and Iowa, north to Ontario.
Concealer Moths
Oecophoridae (concealer moths) is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this.
Labrador Carpet
Xanthorhoe labradorensis, the Labrador carpet moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found across Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia and Alaska, north to Yukon and the Northwest Territories, south in the east to Louisiana and Mississippi. The habitat consists of open wooded areas and edges.
Sleepy Orange
Eurema nicippe, the sleepy orange, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is also found in the West Indies, Costa Rica and Belize.
Harvester
Feniseca tarquinius, the harvester, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, and the only member of the monotypic genus Feniseca. It is found in North America.
Coffee-loving Pyrausta Moth
Pyrausta tyralis, the coffee-loving pyrausta moth, is a moth in the Crambidae family. It was described by Guenée in 1854. It is found in the United States, where it has been recorded from New York to Illinois and from Florida to Arizona. It is also found from Mexico to Venezuela, as well as on the West Indies.
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.
Baltimore Snout
The Baltimore Bomolocha or Baltimore Hypena (Hypena baltimoralis) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in the Eastern part of the United States, west and south to Wisconsin, Missouri and Florida and Texas.
White-dotted Prominent
The rough prominent (Nadata gibbosa) is a moth of the family Notodontidae, possibly in the subfamily Notodontidae. It is also known as the white-dotted prominent and the tawny prominent. This common moth is found across North America from the northern boreal forests to as far south as Florida. It is most common in deciduous forests at some elevation. It is ...more ↓
Hickory Tussock Moth
Lophocampa caryae, the hickory tussock moth or hickory halisidota, is a moth in the family Erebidae, widely distributed in the eastern half of North America. Like most species in its family, the caterpillars acquire chemical defenses from their host plants, so they are potentially toxic or unpalatable, but this species is also venomous. The behaviour and aposematic ...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 ↓
Hummingbird Clearwing
Hemaris thysbe, commonly known as the hummingbird clearwing, is a moth of the Sphingidae (hawkmoth) family. Coloration varies between individuals, but typically the moth is olive green and burgundy on its back, and white or yellow and burgundy on the underside. Its wings are transparent with a reddish-brown border. It has light-colored legs, which combined with the lack ...more ↓
Indigo Stem Borer Moth
Papaipema baptisiae, known generally as the indigo stem borer or wild indigo borer moth, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.
Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta, the summer azure, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in North America. Layberry, Hall, and Lafontaine, in The Butterflies of Canada, describe the species:
Zebra Swallowtail
Protographium marcellus, the zebra swallowtail, (formerly listed under genera Eurytides, Iphiclides, Graphium and Papilio by some authorities) is a swallowtail butterfly native to the eastern United States and southeast Canada. Its distinctive wing shape and long tails make it easy to identify, and its black-and-white-striped pattern is ...more ↓
Tulip-tree Beauty
Epimecis hortaria, the tulip-tree beauty, is a species of Ennominae found in North America. It is found throughout New England south to Florida and west to Texas and Missouri. They can be seen flying from late March to early October. Adults are nocturnal and are attracted to lights. The immature caterpillars can be found feeding on Magnolia, Asimina, ...more ↓
Darling Underwing
Catocala cara, the darling underwing, is an Erebidae species. The species can be found in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains; it occurs west at least to Oklahoma and north at least to Illinois. It also ranges into southern Canada, but only barely so.
Angel Moth
Olceclostera angelica, the angel moth, is a moth in the Bombycidae family. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Texas and north to Wisconsin and Ontario. The habitat consists of deciduous forests.
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.
Boxwood Leaftier Moth
Galasa nigrinodis, the boxwood leaftier moth or boxwood webworm, is moth of the family Pyralidae. It is found in eastern North America.
Leconte's Haploa Moth
Haploa lecontei (Leconte's haploa) is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found Nova Scotia to Georgia, west to Manitoba through Arkansas.
Hessel's Hairstreak
Callophrys hesseli, or Hessel's hairstreak, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It ranges from southern Maine south along the Atlantic coastal plain to northern Florida on the Gulf Coast. The species was first described by George W. Rawson and J. Benjamin Ziegler in 1950. It is listed as endangered in Connecticut by state authorities.
Slug Caterpillar Moths
The Limacodidae or Euclidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Zygaenoidea or the Cossoidea; the placement is in dispute. They are often called slug moths because their caterpillars bear a distinct resemblance to slugs. They are also called cup moths because of the shape of their cocoons.
New World Flannel Moths
The flannel moths or crinkled flannel moths (scientific name Megalopygidae) are a family of insects. They occur in North America (11 species) and the New World tropics. The larvae are called puss caterpillars, and with their long hairs, resemble cotton balls. They have venomous spines that can cause a painful sting and inflammation lasting for several days. In some ...more ↓
Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus, the juniper hairstreak or olive hairstreak, is a butterfly native to North America. It belongs in the family Lycaenidae.
Beautiful Wood-nymph
Eudryas grata is a moth known as the beautiful wood nymph. The caterpillars are known to feed on the Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).
Arched Hooktip Moth
The arched hooktip or masked birch caterpillar (Drepana arcuata) is a moth of the Drepanidae family. It is found from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island, south to at least North Carolina, South Carolina and California.
Hooktip and False Owlet Moths
The Drepanidae is a family of moths with about 660 species described worldwide. They are generally divided in three subfamilies (Minet and Scoble, 1999;) which share the same type of hearing organ. Thyatirinae, previously often placed in their own family, bear a superficial resemblance to Noctuidae. Many species in the Drepanid family have a distinctively hook-shaped apex to the ...more ↓
Elm Sphinx
The Elm sphinx, (Ceratomia amyntor), sometimes called the Four-horned Sphinx, is a North American species of moth in the Sphingidae family. It has a wingspan of 3¼ - 4½ inches (8.2 - 11.5 cm). As the name suggests, the larvae (caterpillars) feed on elm trees (Ulmus), but they can also be found feeding on birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry ...more ↓
Lunate Zale Moth
The Lunate Zale (Zale lunata) is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in the East of North America. The wingspan is 40–55 mm. The moth flies from March to September depending on the location. The larvae feed on various deciduous trees, such as Maple, Willow and Prunus.
Northern Azure
Celastrina lucia, the lucia azure, northern azure, eastern spring azure or northern spring azure, is a species of butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found eastern North America, ranging from the Maritimes south through the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia.
Eight-spotted Forester Moth
The Eight-Spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in the Eastern part of the United States, Texas and Florida. It is also present in parts of Canada.
Shiny Headstand Moths
Argyresthiinae is a subfamily of moths of the Yponomeutidae family, although it is treated as a full family Argyresthiidae by some authors.
Sack-bearer Moths
Mimallonoidea is the superfamily of sack bearer moths, containing the single family Mimallonidae.
Evergreen Bagworm Moth
The evergreen bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), commonly known as bagworm, eastern bagworm, common bagworm, common basket worm, or North American bagworm, is a moth that spins its cocoon in its larval life, decorating it with bits of plant material from the trees on which it feeds.
Salt Marsh Moth
Estigmene acrea (salt marsh moth or acrea moth) is a moth in the family Arctiidae. It is found in North America, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Colombia and Mexico.
Alfalfa Looper
The alfalfa looper (Autographa californica) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found from Southern British Columbia to Baja California and to Manitoba, South Dakota, Colorado and New Mexico.
Little Yellow
Eurema lisa, commonly known as the little yellow, little sulphur or little sulfur, is a species of Coliadinae that occurs in Central America and the southern part of North America.
Saddleback Caterpillar Moth
The saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea (formerly Sibine stimulea), is the larva of a species of moth native to eastern North America. It is also found in Mexico y Central America and possibly in the northern part of South America. The species belongs to the family of slug caterpillars, Limacodidae.
Hag Moth
Phobetron pithecium, the hag moth, is a moth of the family Limacodidae. Its larva is known as the monkey slug.
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 ↓
Black-rimmed Prominent
The Black-rimmed Prominent Moth, Fissured Prominent or False-sphinx (Pheosia rimosa) is a species of moth of the Notodontidae family. It is found from coast to coast in North America, although it is less common in the south-eastern United States.
Brown-hooded Owlet
The Brown-hooded Owlet or Brown-bordered Cucullia (Cucullia convexipennis) is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in the north-eastern parts of the United States and adjacent parts of Canada.
Red-banded Hairstreak
The red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) is a butterfly native to the southeastern United States. It feeds on fallen leaves of sumac species and other trees. Its size ranges from 0.9–1.25 inches (23–32 mm). It lives near coastal areas.
Achemon Sphinx
Eumorpha achemon (Achemon sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is native to North America, where it is known from most of the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. It is rare or absent in the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, and Southeastern United States except Florida.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
The eastern tailed-blue or eastern tailed blue (Cupido comyntas), also known as Everes comyntas, is a common butterfly of eastern North America. It is a medium-sized butterfly that is distinguished from other blues in its range by the small thin tail.
Umber Moth
Hypomecis umbrosaria, the umber moth, is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in North America.
Definite Tussock Moth
The definite tussock moth or definite-marked tussock moth (Orgyia definita) is a moth of the family Erebidae found from Minnesota to New Brunswick and south to South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Turbulent Phosphila Moth
Phosphila turbulenta, the turbulent phosphila, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.
Greater Wax Moth
Galleria mellonella, the greater wax moth or honeycomb moth, is a moth of the family Pyralidae. G. mellonella is found throughout the world. It is one of two species of wax moths, with the other being the lesser wax moth. G. mellonella eggs are laid in the spring, and they have four life stages. Males are able to generate ultrasonic sound pulses, ...more ↓
Pug Moths
Eupithecia is a large genus of moths of the family Geometridae. There are hundreds of described species, found in all parts of the world (45 in the British Isles alone), and new species are discovered on a regular basis.
Suzuki's Promalactis Moth
Suzuki's promolactis moth (Promalactis suzukiella) is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is native to Korea, Japan and Taiwan, but is an introduced species in the United States, where it has been recorded from Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
Polyhymno luteostrigella
Polyhymno luteostrigella, the polyhymno moth, is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is found in the United States, where it has been recorded from Texas to Florida, north to Connecticut and Kentucky. It is also found in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Tropical Ermine Moths
Attevidae is a family of moths of the Yponomeutoidea superfamily, containing only one genus, Atteva. The group has a pantropical distribution, but at least one species (Atteva aurea) has a range that extends into the temperate zone. No consistent hypotheses regarding the relationships, placement, and ranking of Attevidae have been published, but the prevalent view ...more ↓
Sharp Angle Shades
Conservula anodonta, the sharp angle shade, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.
American Angle Shades
Euplexia benesimilis, the American angle shade, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.
Olive Angle Shades
Phlogophora iris, the olive angle shade, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.
Brown Angle Shades
The brown angle shades (Phlogophora periculosa) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found from coast to coast in the northern United States and southern Canada, south in the east to Georgia and Mississippi, south in the west to California (it is not present in Florida and the south-central states).
Indian-Meal Moth
The Indian mealmoth (Plodia interpunctella), alternatively spelled Indianmeal moth, is a pyraloid moth of the family Pyralidae. Alternative common names are weevil moth, pantry moth, flour moth or grain moth. The almond moth (Cadra cautella) and the raisin moth (Cadra figulilella) are commonly confused with the Indian mealmoth due ...more ↓
Clymene Moth
Haploa clymene (clymene moth) is a moth of the tiger moth family - Arctiidae, subfamily Arctiinae. It is found in eastern North America.
Pepper and Salt Skipper
Amblyscirtes hegon, the pepper-and-salt skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Nova Scotia and Maine, west to southern Manitoba, south to Georgia, northern Florida and south-eastern Texas. It is mostly absent from the coastal plain.
Wavy-lined Emerald
Synchlora aerata, the wavy-lined emerald moth or camouflaged looper, is a species of moth of the Geometridae family. It is found in most of North America.
Orange Mint Moth
Pyrausta orphisalis, the orange mint moth or orange-spotted pyrausta, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1859. It is found in North America from Newfoundland west to British Columbia, south to Florida and New Mexico.
Pickleworm Moth
Diaphania nitidalis, the pickleworm, is a serious agricultural pest insect in the Crambidae family. It damages squash primarily, but it is also a common pest of other cucurbits such as cucumbers and melons. It is a tropical species which can be found in the southern United States. In the southern United States, earlier plants are less affected compared to later plantings. ...more ↓
Ipsilon Dart Moth
Agrotis ipsilon, the dark sword-grass, black cutworm, greasy cutworm, or floodplain cutworm is a small noctuid moth found worldwide. The moth gets its scientific name from black markings on its forewings shaped like a letter "Y" and resembles the Greek letter epsilon. The larvae are known as "cutworms" because they cut plants and other crops. The ...more ↓
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.
Sycamore Tussock Moth
Halysidota harrisii (sycamore tussock moth) is a species of moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in South-Eastern Canada, the Eastern parts of the United States (but not Florida) and North-Eastern Mexico. The wingspan is about 50 mm. The moth flies from May to June and from July to August depending on the location.
Common Oak Moth
The Common Oak Moth (Phoberia atomaris) is a species of moth in the Erebidae family. The species is found in North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida, and west to Kansas and Texas.
American Dun-bar Moth
The American Dun-bar Moth (Cosmia calami) is a moth in the Noctuidae family. It is found in North America, including California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.
Forage Looper Moth
The Forage Looper or Common Grass Moth (Caenurgina erechtea) is a moth of the Erebidae family. It is found from coast to coast in the United States and adjacent parts of Canada. It is not found in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
White-spotted Sable
Anania funebris is a species of moth of the Crambidae family. It is found in Europe, Siberia, the Northern parts of the Far East and North America.
Gold-banded Etiella Moth
Etiella zinckenella, the pulse pod borer moth, is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is found in southern and eastern Europe and in the tropics and subtropics of Africa and Asia. They have also been introduced to North America and Australia. It is usually a minor pest for many legumes, but can be a serious pest.
Diamondback Moth
The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), sometimes called the cabbage moth, is a moth species belonging to the Plutellidae family and Plutella genus. The small, grayish-brown moth sometimes has a cream-colored band that forms a diamond along its back. It's believed that the species may have originated in Europe, South Africa, or the Mediterranean region, but it ...more ↓
Plutellidae
The Plutellidae are a family of moths commonly known as the diamondback moths, named after the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) of European origin. Some authors consider this family to be a subfamily of the Yponomeutidae, but it is usually considered to be a family in its own right, and have three subfamilies, Plutellinae, Praydinae, and Scythropiinae.
Grapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth
The grapeleaf skeletonizer (Harrisina americana) is a moth in the family Zygaenidae. It is widespread in the eastern half of the United States, and commonly noticed defoliating grapes, especially of the Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). The western grapeleaf skeletonizer (Harrisina metallica) is very similar to and slightly larger than H. ...more ↓
Maple Callus Borer Moth
Synanthedon acerni, the maple callus borer, is a moth of the Sesiidae family. It is found in Western Canada.
Showy Emerald
Dichorda iridaria, the showy emerald moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, South Carolina, ...more ↓
Alfalfa Webworm Moth
Loxostege cereralis, the alfalfa webworm, is a species of moth of the Crambidae family. It is found from Quebec to British Columbia, south to Mexico in the west.
Speckled Renia Moth
Renia adspergillus, the gray renia or speckled renia moth, is a litter moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Louis Augustin Guillaume Bosc in 1800. It is found in North America from Michigan to Quebec and south to Louisiana and Florida.
Cherry Scallop Shell Moth
Rheumaptera prunivorata, the cherry scallop shell or Ferguson's scallop shell, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Alexander Douglas Campbell Ferguson in 1955. It is found in North America from New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario in Canada, through the eastern parts of the United States, down to Georgia.
Fall Webworm Moth
The fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is a moth in the family Erebidae known principally for its larval stage, which creates the characteristic webbed nests on the tree limbs of a wide variety of hardwoods in the late summer and fall. It is mainly an aesthetic pest and is not believed to harm otherwise healthy trees. It is well known to commercial tree services and ...more ↓
