Moths are an essential pollinator and an indicator of ecosystem health, with over 12,000 species found in North America. Many types of moths are found in the varied landscapes of New York, ranging from the enormous Polyphemus silkmoth to the iridescent Luna moth. On a summer night adventure led by the top 27 unique species, discover the magic of these nocturnal wonders.
Different types of Moths of New York
Pale Beauty Moth
Pale Beauty moths (Campaea perlata) have 1.1-2 in wingspans. Their pale green to grayish white wings feature faint, dark grayish lines accented with white. Active in New York from late spring to early autumn, they’re drawn to outdoor lights, favoring deciduous woodlands. They undergo one generation in the north and two in the south, overwintering as caterpillars on host trees, forming reddish-brown to black pupae on bare winter trees.
Rosy Maple Moth
The Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) boasts 1.25-2 in wingspans, pink forewings with a yellow band, and yellow hindwings. Adored for their charm, they inhabit deciduous forests, suburbs, and urban areas in New York. Found from April to September, they blend with maple seed cases. Caterpillars feed on red, silver, and sugar maples, pupating underground for about a month before spring emergence.
Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth
The Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria) features 1-1.75 in wingspans. Their wings display yellow, tan, or buff-brown hues with parallel dark lines, sometimes forming a single band. Despite sporadic sightings, their populations surge every 6-16 years, remaining high for 4-6 years. Active in July, adults live for ten days, congregating near lights during outbreaks. Unlike others, they create silk mats on tree trunks or branches, not true tents.
Spotted Tussock Moth
The Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata) has 1.38-1.69 in wingspans. Their yellow or tan forewings bear brown stripes, while hindwings are cream. With a furry cream or tan body, they display polymorphic color variations. In New York’s deciduous forests, their caterpillars feed for two months, pupating in brown silk cocoons attached to leaves for winter emergence.
Large Yellow Underwing
The Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) boasts 1.57-2.36 in wingspans with brown forewings and yellow-orange hindwings. Adaptable to various habitats, they startle predators with their sudden flashes of color during takeoff. Thriving in diverse areas like urban spaces, fields, and parks, they’re drawn to outdoor lights. Despite their extended lifespan of 55-75 days, they have only one annual generation.
Carolina Sphinx
The Carolina Sphinx (Manduca sexta) exhibits 3.75-4.75 in wingspans, known for hovering near nectar-rich tubular flowers. While excellent pollinators, their caterpillars, known as Tobacco Hornworms, ravage crops like tomatoes and peppers. In warmer regions, they produce multiple broods year-round, while in cooler areas, adults emerge between May and October with two broods. They lay up to 1,000 eggs and overwinter in their pupal stage.
White-lined Sphinx
The White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata) flaunts 2-3 in wingspans and six distinctive white stripes on a stout, brown, furry body. Often mistaken for hummingbirds, they hover over flowers, sipping nectar with their long proboscis. They favor various blooms like Cardinal Vine, Jimsonweed, and Petunia. Females lay numerous eggs in spring, leading to occasional caterpillar outbreaks, with mass migrations occurring before pupation.
Salt Marsh Moth
The Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) features 1.75-2.69 in wingspans with white forewings and orange hindwings in males, white in females. Despite their attractive appearance, their caterpillars are notorious agricultural pests, attacking crops like corn, tomatoes, and cotton. Active from May to August, they have one to four broods yearly, employing silk parachutes to escape threats.
Imperial Moth
The Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) is one of New York’s largest moths, boasting 3.13-6.88 in wingspans with striking and variable color patterns. Found in various habitats, their caterpillars sport orange hues, later transitioning to brown, burgundy, or green with defensive spines. With only one yearly brood, they face declining populations due to factors like light pollution, pesticides, and parasitic Tachinid Flies.
Io Moth
Io Moths (Automeris io) in New York flaunt 2.5-3.5 in wingspans with striking yellow or reddish-brown/purple bodies, large feathery antennae, and captivating hindwing eyespots. Their defense mechanism involves startling predators with these eyespots. Active from May to June in the north and February to September in the south, they’re nocturnal and avoid eating during adulthood. Beware of their venomous spines at all stages.
Yellow-collared Scape Moth
The Yellow-collared Scape Moth (Cisseps fulvicollis) frequents New York’s meadows, parks, and forests, acting as notable pollinators. Resembling wasps, they repel threats during flower visits. With a 1-1.5 in (2.5-3.8 cm) wingspan, they operate throughout April to October, producing up to three generations annually. Overwintering as caterpillars, they construct cocoons with their own body hairs.
North American Luna Moth
The North American Luna Moth (Actias luna) stands out in New York with 4.5-7 in lime-green wings, maroon borders, and captivating eyespots. Males boast feathery antennae, while females exhibit larger abdomens for egg storage. Their eyespots startle predators, while their long tails confuse bats’ echolocation. Active during breeding seasons, they emit pheromones detectable by males from miles away, while in warmer southern climates, they’re visible year-round.
Hummingbird Clearwing
Resembling tiny hummingbirds, Hummingbird Clearwings (Hemaris thysbe) in New York hover and feed on pink or purple flowers. Active during the day, they emit a soft buzz with their rapid, transparent wing movements. With one or two annual broods, females lay green eggs that hatch in a week. After about four weeks of feeding, caterpillars overwinter in leaf litter cocoons, emerging in spring. They boast a 1.6-2.2 in (4-5.6 cm) wingspan.
Fall Webworm Moth
The Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea) features 1.4-1.7 in wingspans with white forewings and a white hairy body, occasionally displaying orange markings. Caterpillars are known to construct protective tents while feeding on various hardwood trees. Active from April to September in New York, they produce one or multiple broods yearly, with females depositing large iridescent green egg masses. The final brood overwinters as brown cocoons in leaf litter before spring emergence.
Ailanthus Webworm Moth
Ailanthus Webworm Moths (Atteva aurea) in New York display varied characteristics based on location, with southern populations featuring smaller yellow spots. Rapid life cycles see them transform from eggs to adults in just four weeks. They pollinate by feeding on flower nectar, also ingesting chemicals from tree-of-heaven, warning predators with their bright coloration. The final brood overwinters as eggs before initiating spring breeding. They boast a 0.5-1.18 in (1.3-3 cm) wingspan.
American Dagger Moth
The American Dagger (Acronicta americana) is New York’s largest dagger moth, featuring intricate black and white patterns with fine grayish-white hair. Preferring deciduous trees, they inhabit forests, swamps, parks, and backyards. While northern populations produce one yearly brood, southern regions may yield two or three. Look for active adults between April and September, and caterpillars from July to October. Adults’ wingspans are 2-2.6 in (5-6.6 cm).
Green Cloverworm Moth
The Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra) is a modest, small moth commonly found near outdoor lights in gardens, fields, and woodland edges. Their larval form can cause considerable damage to vegetables. With multiple yearly broods, they’re visible year-round in warmer regions, primarily between March and November in northern climates, occasionally emerging on warm days. The wingspans of adults are 0.98–1.38 inches (2.5–3.5 cm).
Banded Tussock Moth
Banded Tussock Moths (Halysidota tessellaris) thrive in New York’s deciduous forests, occasionally spotted near outdoor lights. Active from May to August, they closely resemble Sycamore Tussock Moths, distinguishable only through dissection or DNA analysis. While adult moths feed on nectar, their caterpillars consume various plants, storing chemicals for defense against predators. The wingspan of adults is 1.57-1.77 inches (3.8-4.3 cm).
Polyphemus Moth
The Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is distinguished by its large, intimidating eyespots resembling a great horned owl’s face. Found in various New York habitats, they have a short lifespan of about four days as adults. Males locate females through pheromones, utilizing their feathery antennae, with neither gender requiring nourishment due to their exclusive focus on mating. Adults’ wingspans are 4-6 in (10-15 cm).
Milkweed Tussock Moth
The Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle) may seem dull as adults, but their vibrant caterpillars sport black, white, orange, and yellow tufts. They deter predators by storing plant chemicals, emitting warning clicks to deter bats. Coexisting with Monarch butterflies, they serve as native pollinators that don’t harm milkweed plants. Wingspans range from 1.25 to 1.7 inches (3-4.3 cm).
Virginian Tiger Moth
Virginian Tiger Moths (Spilosoma virginica) thrive in diverse New York habitats, including forests, rainforests, farms, grasslands, and urban areas. Their unique communication relies on females emitting pheromones, which males detect with their distinctive, feathery antennae. With multiple yearly broods, the last brood overwinters as caterpillars. Wingspans range from 1.25 to 2 inches (3-5 cm).
Giant Leopard Moth
Giant Leopard Moths (Hypercompe scribonia) earn their name from striking, leopard-like patterns. With large ears and tymbal organs, they’re equipped to detect and deter predators, including bats. Feigning death and secreting bitter fluid further protect these moths. Adults’ wingspans range from 2.24 to 3.58 inches (5.7-8.9 cm).
Hickory Tussock Moth
Hickory Tussock Moths (Lophocampa caryae) don’t feed as adults. They lay eggs in batches on leaves, leading to groups of caterpillars and localized defoliation. Caterpillars irritate skin, so it’s best to leave their cocoons undisturbed. Adults have a wingspan of 1.46-2.17 inches (3.7-5.5 cm).
Isabella Tiger Moth
Isabella Tiger Moths (Pyrrharctia Isabella) adapt to diverse New York habitats, thriving even in the Arctic. Their unique cryoprotectant production allows survival in freezing temperatures. With a short lifespan, they vibrate a tymbal organ, emitting high-frequency clicks to deter predators. Recognizable as caterpillars (Wooly Bears), they’ve inspired a folk belief about winter prediction based on their band patterns. The wingspan of an adult is 1.75–2.5 inches (4-6 cm).
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