Things To Do > Native Wildlife Nearby > Moths and Butterflies
Butterflies
About 475 species of butterflies occur in North America north of Mexico.
Skippers
At first glance, skippers look halfway between butterflies and moths.
Moths
More than 12,000 species of moths occur in North America north of Mexico.
Butterflies Found in Our Area
American Lady
(Vanessa virginiensis)
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Photo © Smithsonian
American Snout Butterfly
(Libytheana carinent)
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Photo © Smithsonian
Black Swallowtail (Parsnip Swallowtail)
(Papilio polyxenes)
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Photo © Smithsonian
Bronze Copper
Lycaena hyllus (syn. Hyllolycaena hyllus; Lycaena thoe)
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Photo © Smithsonian
Cabbage White
(Pieris rapar)
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Photo © Smithsonian
Checkered White
(Pontia protodice)
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Photo © Smithsonian
Chickweed Geometer
(Haematopis grataria)
Clouded Sulphur
(Colias philodice)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Cloudless Sulphur
(Phoebis sennae)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Common Buckeye
(Junonia coenia)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Common Wood Nymph
(Cercyonis pegala)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Coral Hairstreak
Satyrium titus (syn. Harkenclenus titus)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Dainty Sulphur
(Nathalis iole)
Eastern Comma
(Polygonia comma)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Eastern Tailed Blue
(Cupido comyntas)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
(Papilio glaucus)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Falcate Orangetip
(Anthocharis midea)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Giant Swallowtail
(Papilio cresphontes)
Goatweed Leafwing
(Anaea andria)
Grapeleaf Skeletonizer
(Harrisina americana)
Gray Comma
(Polygonia progne)
Gray Copper (Great Copper)
Lycaena dione (formerly Gaeides xanthoides dione)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Gray Hairstreak
(Strymon melinus)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Great Spangled Fritillary
(Speyeria cybele)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Hackberry Emperor
(Asterocampa celtis)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Henry’s Elfin
Callophrys henrici (formerly Incisalia henrici)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Little Yellow
Pyrisitia lisa (syn. Eurema lisa)
Little Wood Satyr
(Megisto cymela)
Monarch
(Danaus plexippus)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Morning-Glory Prominent
(Schizura ipomoeae)
Mourning Cloak
(Nymphalis antiopa)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Northern Pearly-Eye
Enodia anthedon (syn. Lethe anthedon)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Orange Sulphur (Alfalfa Butterfly)
(Colias eurytheme)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Orange Wing
(Mellilla xanthometata
Painted Lady
(Vanessa cardui)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Pearl Crescent
(Phyciodes tharos)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Question Mark
(Polygonia interrogationis)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Red Admiral
(Vanessa atalanta)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Red-spotted Purple
(Limenitis arthemis)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Regal Fritillary
(Speyeria idalia)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Silvery Checkerspot
(Chlosyne nycteis)
Southern Dogface
Zerene cesonia (formerly Colias cesonia)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation/Donna Brunet
Xanthotype Geometers
(Xanthotype spp.)
Skippers found in our area include:
Common Checkered Skipper
(Pyrgus communis)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Delaware Skipper
(Anatrytone logan)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Fiery Skipper
(Hylephila phyleus)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Least Skipper
(Ancyloxypha numitor)
Northern Cloudywing
(Thorybes pylades)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Peck’s Skipper
(Polites peckius)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Sachem
(Atalopedes campestris)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Tawny Edged Skipper
(Polites themistocles)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Moths found in our area include:
Ailanthus Webworm Moth
(Atteva aurea)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Banded Tiger Moth
(Apantesis vittata)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Banded Tussock Moth
(Halysidota tessellaris)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Beautiful Wood-Nymph
(Eudryas grata)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Bent-Line Carpet
Costaconvexa centrostrigaria (formerly Orthonama centrostrigaria)
Bilobed Looper
Megalographa biloba (formerly Autographa biloba)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Black-and-Yellow Lichen Moth
(Lycomorpha pholus)
Black-bordered Lemon Moth
(Marimatha nigrofimbria)
Photo © Jeff Garner
Cecropia Moth
(Hyalophora cecropia)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Celery Looper
(Anagrapha falcifera)
Clover Looper
(Caenurgina crassiuscula)
Crambid Snout Moths
More than 860 species in North America north of Mexico
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
(Malacosoma americana)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Eight-Spotted Forester
(Alypia octomaculata)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Evergreen Bagworm Moth
(Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Fall Webworm Moth
(Hyphantria cunea)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Geometrid Moths
About 250 species recorded for Missouri
Photo © Smithsonian
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Giant Leopard Moth
Hypercompe scribonia (syn. Ecpantheria scribonia))
Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths
About 75 species in North America north of Mexico
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Grapevine Epimenis
(Psychomorpha epimenis)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Hagen’s Sphinx (Osage Orange Sphinx)
(Ceratomia hageni)
Honey Locust Moth
Syssphinx bicolor (syn. Sphingicampa bicolor)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Hummingbird Clearwing
(Hemaris thysbe)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Io Moth
(Automeris io)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Isabella Tiger Moth (Woolly Bear, Woolly Worm)
(Pyrrharctia isabella)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Juniper-Twig Geometer
(Patalene olyzonaria)
Leaf Sketetonizer Moths (Smoky Moths)
About 25 species in North America north of Mexico
Leaffolder Moths
(Desmia spp.)
Lettered Sphinx
(Deidamia inscriptum)
Litter Moths
(Subfamily Herminiinae)
Lucerne Moth
(Nomophila nearctica)
Luna Moth
(Actias luna)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Magdalen Underwing
(Catocala illecta)
Nessus Sphinx
(Amphion floridensis)
Noctuid Moths
More than 2,500 species in North America north of Mexico
Orange Wing
(Mellilla xanthometata)
Ornate Bella Moth
(Utetheisa ornatrix)
Painted Lichen Moth – (Hypoprepia fucosa)
Photo © Adrianna Nelson
Plume Moths
Nearly 150 species in North America north of Mexico
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Polyphemus Moth
(Antheraea polyphemus)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Prominent Moths
About 50 species recorded from Missouri
Pyralid Moths
More than 680 species in North America north of Mexico
Red-Fringed Emerald
(Nemoria bistriaria)
Regal Moth
(Citheronia regalis)
Rosy Maple Moth
(Dryocampa rubicunda)
Salt Marsh Moth (Acrea Moth)
(Estigmene acrea)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Slug Caterpillar Moths
More than 20 species in Missouri)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Snowberry Clearwing
(Hemaris diffinis)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Sod Webworm
(Pediasia trisecta)
Sphinx Moths (Hawk Moths)
More than 50 species in Missouri
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Spiny Oak-slug Moth
(Euclea delphinii)
Tent Caterpillar And Lappet Moths
About 35 species in North America north of Mexico
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Three-Lined Flower Moth
(Schinia trifascia)
Tiger and Lichen Moths
Subfamily Arctiinae (formerly a family)
Photo © Smithsonian
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Tortricid Moths
About 1,400 species in North America north of Mexico
Underwing Moths
Catocala spp., more than 100 species in North America north of Mexico
Photo © Smithsonian
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Virginia Creeper Sphinx
(Darapsa myron)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Wavy-Lined Emerald
(Synchlora aerata)
White-Lined Sphinx
(Hyles lineata)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Yellow-collared Scape Moth
(Cisseps fulvicollis)
Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation
