Types of Moths With Identification Guide and Pictures (Identification Chart)
- Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) The beautiful fluffy rosy maple moth is easily identified by its colorful yellow and pink wings. The rosy maple ...
- Luna moth (Actias luna)
- Blotched Emerald Moth (Comibaena bajularia)
- Achemon Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha achemon)
- Beautiful Wood Nymph Moth (Eudryas grata)
Full Answer
What are the different types of moths?
- What is a Moth?
- Types of House Moths
- Pantry Moths 1. Brown House Moth 2. White-Shouldered House Moth 3. Indian Meal Moth 4. Mediterranean Pantry Moth
- Clothes Moths 1. Common Clothes Moth 2. Case-Bearing Clothes Moth
- How to Get Rid of Moths in the Home
What kinds of moths are there?
What types of moths are there?
- Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) – the largest moth in the world.
- Black witch (Ascalapha odorata)
- Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia)
- Comet moth (Argema mittrei)
- Death's-head hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos)
- Emperor gum moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti)
- Giant peacock moth (Saturnia pyri)
What does a moth look like?
The moth is rather small compared to other species, meaning only seven millimeters in length and a wingspan of nine to 16 millimeters. They have a distinct yellow-brown/ mustard/ ocherous hue on their body and a red-orange hair tuft on their head. Their larvae or caterpillar stage has the insect looking white in color with a dark or brown head.
What are tiny moths?
Small moths fluttering around the home are unwelcome visitors anytime of the year. They are often noticed in early winter, as the house is closed up and holiday baking materials and birdseed often are on hand. These insects are Indianmeal moths, often carried into the home with cereal and grain products. Indianmeal moths frequently are brought in with birdseed used for wild birds, and then spread to the rest of the home.
What are the most common type of moths?
Brown House Moth. The brown house moth is the most common of all moths. Its wings are a golden color that resembles bronze and they have black flecks. ... Pantry Moths. Pantry moths are also considered to be common. ... Clothes/Carpet Moths. There are two troublesome types of clothes/carpet moths.
What are different types of moths called?
Types of Moths and Species of MothsWhite-lined Sphinx Moth – Hyles lineata, Sphingidae.Hummingbird Hawk-moth – Macroglossum stellatarum, Sphingidae.Luna Moth – Actias luna, Saturniidae.Io Moth – Automeris io, Saturniidae.Garden Tiger Moth – Arctia caja, Erebidae.Atlas Moth – Attacus atlas, Saturniidae.More items...•
How do I know what kind of moth I have?
The easiest way to figure out what kind of moth you have is by where you find the moth. If it is fluttering around in your closets, it is probably a clothing moth. These moths deposit their eggs on clothing and other natural fabrics so that the babies have easy access to a meal after they hatch.
Is there an app to identify moths?
Leps analyzes your moth/butterfly photos to suggest possible IDs that can be later verified by the Fieldguide community. Leps arranges your observations into a dynamic checklist.
What moths are rare?
In honor of our winged friends, here are some of the coolest and most unusual moths in the Smithsonian's collections.Bella moth. ... Sloth moth. ... Luna moth. ... Vampire moth. ... Hemiceratoides hieroglyphica. ... Morgan's sphinx moth. ... Death's-head hawkmoth.
What are the little brown moths in my house?
Pantry Moths These moths include several different species like the Indian meal moth and brown house moth. You'll find them mostly in your kitchen pantry where you store grains and dry goods, like cereals, crackers and rice. They are also known to eat nuts, spices, and even chocolate.
What attracts moths in the house?
They are particularly attracted to dark, warm, humid spaces, and dirty clothing (especially unwashed items that may have lingering body oils or food residue). If you aren't sure if the holes are moth-caused, one way to tell is that some larvae will leave behind a web that resembles dried snot.
What causes moths in your house?
Many people wonder what brings these pests indoors. Common knowledge holds that light attracts moths, and this is true in many cases. Moths often gather around outdoor lighting or windows at nighttime, where they may move inside through small cracks or when doors and windows are opened.
What does it mean when a moth comes in your house?
What does a moth symbolize if it is found in your house? Moths in the house sign meaning represent enemies who may be trying to get you injured. They are laboring to undermine your position in life. It also indicates a quarrel between you and your lover with a possible separation.
What kind of moth is black and white?
Their legs have black and white bands....Giant leopard mothSecure (NatureServe)Scientific classificationKingdom:AnimaliaPhylum:Arthropoda15 more rows
How can you tell a butterfly from a moth?
Physical Features: Moths vs Butterflies The best way to tell the difference between a moth vs a butterfly is to look at the antennae. All butterflies have long, thin antennae that end in a thickened tip. But no North American moths sport these “clubbed” antennae.
What is the best butterfly ID app?
The Unified Butterfly Recorder (UBR) is a fully functional app for Android phones and tablets available on Google Play store. The app offers the world's butterfly enthusiasts a standardized and easy-to-use tool for recording data about butterfly population sightings.
What is the most common moth species?
1. Tineola Bisselliella. Commonly referred to as the clothes moth, the Tineola bisselliella is one of the most known moth species. It thrives most in natural fibers, precisely wool, where it also lays its eggs and where the larvae develop. More so, these moths can also be found in food, especially grains stored away in cabinets.
How big is a cloth moth?
Cloth moth. The moth is rather small compared to other species, meaning only seven millimeters in length and a wingspan of nine to 16 millimeters. They have a distinct yellow-brown/ mustard/ ocherous hue on their body and a red-orange hair tuft on their heads.
What is the color of the Luna moth?
Luna Moth. Next up is the Luna moth, a common silk moth which distinguishes itself by its size. The giant moth has a pale/ lime green hue on the wings and a white body. Its wingspan is between 4.5 inches to over seven inches long. What’s interesting about this moth is in the stages of the moth from egg to color.
What is the biggest moth in the world?
Hercules Moth (Coscinocera Hercules) Hercules is reportedly the biggest moth on planet earth. With a wing span of over 27cm, it is among the largest moths in the world . Shockingly, regardless of the size, adult moths of this species do not feed. They lack usable mouths.
How long do Atlas moths live?
Atlas moth side view. The lines are white, pink, purple, and black with triangular and scale-less windows. The atlas moth has a very short lifespan of just two weeks which can be further reduced by the moth’s activity such as flying. Hence, the moth has to preserve its valuable energy to elongate its lifespan.
What does a line moth turn green?
After a few days, the eggs hatch to a larva that now turns green, slightly longer and has sparse hairs. When it about to cocoon, the moth changes color again to brownish, then finally the adult turns again to lime green. The females and males of the line moth are quite similar, unlike other moth species.
How many eggs can a line moth carry?
The same color, spots on the wings and even the length. One distinct feature about the female though, they have one of the largest abdomens that can carry over 400 eggs.
What order do moths belong to?
Both moths and butterflies belong to the insect order Lepidoptera. This is one of the main orders of pollinators. The other important pollinator orders are Hymenoptera (bees and ants), Coleoptera (beetles), and Diptera (flies).
Why are moths so interesting?
Moths are much more interesting than you may think. They can be gorgeous, colorful, massive, and important pollinators. They can also be huge pests, harming agriculture and forestry. It would take many lifetimes to learn everything there is to know about moths, especially because there are 10 times as many moths species than butterfly species in ...
How do moths and butterflies differ?
Moths differ from butterflies in a few ways. Most people think moths are nocturnal and brown and butterflies are diurnal and colorful. While this is generally true, it isn’t a tried-and-true method of moth identification. There are some stunningly beautiful moth species that fly during the day!
What are the effects of moths on crops?
The larval stages of moths cause immense crop damage to important crops such as apples, corn, wheat, sorghum, and more. Being such a huge group of flying insects, it should be no surprise that some species are beneficial to ecosystems while others are devastating to agriculture. Workers spray pesticides on a wheat field.
Why are pepper moths white?
Before the industrial revolution in Britain, the moth was typically white so it could blend in with the bark of birch trees. After decades of heavy pollution, the white trees became grayer, as did much of urban Britain.
How many wings does a lepidopteran have?
They have four wings and live across the world. Moths differ from butterflies in a few ways.
How many species of lepidoptera are threatened with extinction?
Additionally, land-use change from natural areas to agriculture or development has negative impacts on lepidoptera populations. In fact, almost 20 percent of the 800 species of butterflies (whose conservation is similar to moths) are threatened with extinction in the U.S.
What is the name of the moth with a white body?
Luna Moth. Scientific name: Actias luna. This is a type of moth with lime -green colored wings and a white body, and is also often referred to as the American Moon Moth. It belongs to the Saturniidae family, also known as saturniids.
How big are moth wings?
The wingspan of these moths ranges from 110 – 150 millimeters and they are often marked and colored. One of their key distinguishing features is an elongated solid black spot present on their hind wing eye spot.
What is the name of the moth that eats flour?
It is a pyraloid moth that belongs to the Pyralidae family. The Indianmeal moth is also known by various other names including grain moth, weevil moth, flour moth, and pantry moth. It is one of those moths that have been found in every continent except Antarctica.
What is the wingspan of a gypsy moth?
The gypsy moth has several subspecies, namely the European gypsy moth, Asian gypsy moth, and the Japanese gypsy moth. The wingspan of male gypsy moths ranges from 3-4 cm and for females it is 5.6 to 6.7 cm.
Why is honeycomb moth called honeycomb moth?
It gets its other common name, that is, honeycomb moth due to the fact that it does parasitization of honeybees and hives.
What is a diamondback moth?
They are small in size, and are typically grayish brown in color, but can often sport a diamond-shaped cream colored band , hence the name Diamondback moth.
Why are moths important?
What’s important to know here is that they offer a plethora of key ecological benefits. Moths play an integral role in the wildlife ecosystem. They are a vital food source for many other animals and they often also help pollinate flowers.
How to tell if a moth is a moth?
To identify a type of moth, look closely at its antennae. Generally, all moths have feelers with saw-like or tooth-like edges giving the feathery antennae a ragged or fuzzy appearance. Also, moths typically have a furry body and, sometimes, hairy wings.
How many moths are there in the world?
Moths are flying insects with four wings belonging to the insect order Lepidoptera. Scientists reckon that there are over 160,000 moth species, and 11,000 are native to North America. Compared to the number of butterfly species, there is ten times the number of moth species globally.
What moth has fuzzy black legs?
Pictures of this rare tropical moth show that its two long antennae are relatively smooth. Also, Thyrididae striglininae has identifiable fuzzy black legs. Additionally, the tips of its forewings can be brownish-black in some species.
What is the color of the Barsine Orientalis moth?
The identifying feature of the Barsine orientalis moth is its pale tan wings with orange squares or rectangles and brown patterns.
What is the color of a barsine moth?
Barsine orientalis is a multi-colored, pretty moth with orange , tan, dark brown, and black markings. Like many types of beautiful moths, this orange moth is native to tropical climates. The patterns on the wings are geometric shapes of squares and rectangles as well as some circles.
What is a black and red moth?
Glanycus coendersi Kalis is a spectacular black and red moth in the family of picture-winged moths. This beautiful two-colored moth is found in tropical climates and is active during the day. The Glanycus coendersi Kalis is identified by its long forewings, short hind wings, and plump black and red body.
How to identify sheep moths?
Sheep moth identification is by its pink and black forewings, yellow and black hind wings, slender body, and feathery antennae.
What are the different types of moths?
The different types of house moths can be broken down into two main categories: pantry moths and clothes moths. With this in mind, some of the most common types of house moths include the brown house moth, white-shouldered house moth, Mediterranean pantry moth, Indian meal moth, common clothes moth, and the case-bearing clothes moth.
What is a Moth?
Moths are a part of the class of “Insecta,” which refers to insects, or invertebrates with three portions to its body and six legs. Both moths and butterflies are included in the order Lepidoptera – when translated means “scaly wings” as they feature big wings with scales on them. It is thought that there are nearly 160,000 species of moth, many of which have not been described yet.
How to tell if you have a pantry moth infestation?
A good indication of a pantry moth infestation is webbing or tiny larvae squirming around inside your food containers when you open them. Here are the most common pantry moths to be aware of:
How long do flour moths live?
The lifespan of the Mediterranean Pantry Moth is about 10 weeks. Webbing and matting of the larvae tend to cause the most significant damage, whether it’s clogging machinery or contaminating food.
How to tell if a moth is in your house?
Signs that indicate a clothes moth infestation include webbing, holes in the fabric, and excrement, which appears like large grains of sand. You may also find their silk cases, which are long, cylindrical, open on the end, and include pieces of infested material inside the case. If the case is still occupied, it will have a squirming larva inside. The most common types of clothes moths you’ll find in your home are as follows:
What is the name of the moth that eats flour?
The Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella) are also sometimes known simply as Pantry Moths or Flour Moths. Their larvae (caterpillars) are commonly referred to as “waxworms”. These moths are grain-feeding pests that can be found worldwide, feeding on cereals and similar food items.
How do moths get their name?
This moth gets its name because the larval caterpillar creates a silken cell around itself that it carries as it moves around and feeds. These cells are typically described as appearing like grains of rice, but if you look close enough you’ll usually see the head coming out of the case. Although less common, you’ll usually find these moths in imported goods like hides or other products of animal origin.
How to tell a moth from a butterfly?
There's no one guaranteed way to tell a moth from a butterfly, but you can nearly always do it by looking at a few key features. Here are some basic differences -- if your insect matches at least two of them, then you can be pretty sure which one it is.
What is the name of the moth that pops up its wings?
The io moth is one of the giant silk moths, along with the luna moth and the polyphemus moth. But it's a good deal smaller than those. The io moth , like the polyphemus and the eyed sphinx, has huge dark eyespots on its hind wings; when it's frightened, it pops up the upper wings and the eyes open up. It's a pretty startling effect, and it's easy to imagine a lizard seeing that and scooting away, leaving the moth unharmed.
Why are sphinx moths called sphinx moths?
They're known as sphinx moths because of the way the caterpillar rears up the front of its body when it's alarmed . Early entomologists thought that looked like the pose of the Great Sphinx in Egypt.
What is a polyphemus moth?
The polyphemus moth is a giant silk moth species, and is one of the most common of its group. Like all Saturniidae, The polyphemus moth doesn't eat as an adult -- that job is up to the caterpillar, which is a big, fat, green larva that eats tons and tons of leaves. The polyphemus moth is huge, but it has brown shaded wings that blend in with dry leaves. The underwings, though, have huge, startling eyespot markings. The moth flashes these when it's disturbed, which might scare away a bird or lizard that's about to eat the moth.
What is the difference between a moth and a butterfly?
Moths are often furry and have heavy bodies; butterflies have smooth, slender bodies
What is the common name of the yellow woolly bear?
The caterpillar of the Isabella tiger moth is the common, and commonly found, yellow woolly bear.
How many butterfly species are there in the US?
This guide features a small number of the moths that are out there waiting for you to find them. While there are about 700 butterfly species in the US, there are well over 10,000 moth species -- most of them small and plain-colored, but many of them rivaling butterflies in beauty and form.
What are Pantry Moths?
Pantry moths are also referred to as meal moths, because they will seek out and infest the grains and dried foods present in your pantry or cupboard. Pantry moths might look harmless at first glance, but don’t be deceived. The larva is destructive.
Pantry Moth Pictures
Check out the pantry moth pictures and details below to help you identify which species is in your home.
Final Thoughts
When you have pantry moths in your home, exercise caution! Tackle the issue before it becomes an infestation with pantry moth treatments specifically made for the kitchen. The first step in this process is to assess the moth presence in your home by placing Pantry Moth Traps around your kitchen, pantry and other food store areas.