Field Guide

Butterflies and Moths

Showing 1 - 10 of 52 results
image of an Ailanthus Webworm Moth on a flower
Ailanthus Webworm Moth
Atteva aurea
Ailanthus webworm moths visit flowers in the daytime but also come to lights at night. Larvae live communally in silken webs in tree-of-heaven, an invasive tree from Asia.
image of an Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Malacosoma americana
The silken tents of eastern tent caterpillars are conspicuous each spring in the forks of apple, cherry, and plum trees. The adult moths are brown with two pale stripes on the forewings.
Adult salt marsh moth resting on a vertical plant stem
Salt Marsh Moth (Acrea Moth)
Estigmene acrea
The salt marsh moth, a type of tiger moth, is strikingly white with small black spots. Males have yellow-orange hindwings. The caterpillars are fast-moving woolly bears ranging from yellowish to brown to blackish.
Adult fall webworm moth resting on a leaf
Fall Webworm Moth
Hyphantria cunea
Fall webworm moths may be either completely white or have varying amounts of dark spots. The larvae are hairy caterpillars that live communally in late summer and fall in tentlike webs on the branch tips of trees.
Photo of an Eight-Spotted Forester on a flower
Eight-Spotted Forester
Alypia octomaculata
The eight-spotted forester is a spiffy, butterfly-like moth. It is a fast, darting flyer and dazzles the eye when it flitters around flowers.
Photo of a Morning-Glory Prominent moth
Morning-Glory Prominent
Schizura ipomoeae
The morning-glory prominent is common but easily overlooked in Missouri’s woods. The caterpillars mimic curled, dead edges on the leaves they feed on, and the adults blend in with tree bark.
Photo of a leaffolder moth visiting a flower
Leaffolder Moths
Desmia spp.
There are nine species of leaffolder moths in North America, and even specialists must labor to separate them.
Polyphemus Moth, Belton MO
Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths
About 75 species in North America north of Mexico
Missouri has 16 species of saturniid, or giant silkworm moths. Many of them are spectacular, including the cecropia, luna, buck, io, imperial, polyphemus, rosy maple, spiny oakworm, and royal moths.
Image of a Cecropia moth.
Cecropia Moth
Hyalophora cecropia
The cecropia moth looks a lot like butterfly ― but note its feathery antennae and stout, hairy body. This is the largest moth native to North America.
A wavy-lined emerald moth resting on a glass window
Geometrid Moths
About 250 species recorded for Missouri
Geometrid moths usually hold their wide wings spread flat against the surface they’re resting on. The caterpillars in this large family are twig mimics; called inchworms or loopers, they “walk” by humping their backs.
See Also
image of Caddisfly on leaf
Caddisflies
About 1,500 species in North America north of Mexico
Adult caddisflies are mothlike. Their larvae are aquatic and build portable, protective cases out of local materials, including grains of sand, bits of leaves and twigs, and other debris.
Photo of eastern dobsonfly
Eastern Dobsonfly
Corydalus cornutus
Adult eastern dobsonflies are huge and mothlike, with large wings and a weak, fluttery flight. The fiercely predaceous aquatic larvae, called hellgrammites, are well-known to anglers, who often use them as bait.

About Butterflies and Moths in Missouri

Butterflies, skippers, and moths belong to an insect order called the Lepidoptera — the "scale-winged" insects. These living jewels have tiny, overlapping scales that cover their wings like shingles. The scales, whether muted or colorful, seem dusty if they rub off on your fingers. Many butterflies and moths are associated with particular types of food plants, which their caterpillars must eat in order to survive.