Field Guide

Butterflies and Moths

Showing 11 - 20 of 42 results
Media
Image of a Black-Bordered Lemon Moth
Species Types
Scientific Name
Marimatha nigrofimbria
Description
The black-bordered lemon moth moth has lustrous yellow forewings with a black edge. It is one of the many noctuid, or owlet moths.
Media
Photo of a Yellow-Collared Scape Moth
Species Types
Scientific Name
Cisseps fulvicollis
Description
The yellow-collared scape moth is more often “orange-collared.” And whether you think it looks more like a firefly or a wasp, it’s still a moth!
Media
Photo of a Painted Lichen Moth
Species Types
Scientific Name
Hypoprepia fucosa
Description
An attractive moth associated with woodlands, the painted lichen moth has a distinctive pattern of gray stripes on the forewings.
Media
Photo of a Banded Tiger Moth
Species Types
Scientific Name
Apantesis vittata
Description
The striking pattern on the banded tiger moth tells predators that these insects are inedible. But what serves as a “warning label” to birds is attractive to us!
Media
Photo of an Isabella Tiger Moth
Species Types
Scientific Name
Pyrrharctia isabella
Description
Not many people know the adult Isabella tiger moth when they see one, but we’re all acquainted with its caterpillar, the woolly worm, or woolly bear.
Media
Photo of a Black-and-Yellow Lichen Moth
Species Types
Scientific Name
Lycomorpha pholus
Description
The black-and-yellow lichen moth is aptly named. “Lichen” refers to the caterpillars’ food as well as to their camouflage.
Media
Underwing moth Catocala species resting on a brick wall
Species Types
Scientific Name
Catocala spp., more than 100 species in North America north of Mexico
Description
Dozens of species of underwing moths (genus Catocala) live in Missouri. They have drab tan forewings that usually conceal bright orange, red, yellow, or pink hindwings with contrasting bold dark patterns.
Media
image of a White-Headed Prominent moth
Species Types
Scientific Name
About 50 species recorded from Missouri
Description
Prominent moths have a heavy covering of scales, so many of them look fuzzy. Some species curl their wings around their abdomens, which are lifted at an angle, so they resemble a twig.
Media
Photo of a Chickweed Geometer
Species Types
Scientific Name
Haematopis grataria
Description
The colorful chickweed geometer moth flies during the day like a butterfly. It’s called a geometer (“earth measurer”) because the larvae are “inchworms” that loop their bodies with each “step” they take.
Media
Photo of a Xanthotype geometer moth
Species Types
Scientific Name
Xanthotype spp.
Description
“Zantho-tippies” are named for their yellow color (“xantho” means yellow). “Geometer” means earth-measurer, for their “inchworm” caterpillars.
See Also
Media
image of Caddisfly on leaf
Species Types
Scientific Name
About 1,500 species in North America north of Mexico
Description
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.
Media
Photo of eastern dobsonfly
Species Types
Scientific Name
Corydalus cornutus
Description
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.