Moths in South Dakota
Of the several moths thriving in South Dakota, majority of them belong to the Sphingidae and Noctuidae family. The brownish cecropia moth and the tan-colored Polyphemus moth of the Saturniidae family having wingspans of about six inches are the largest here. Of the several moths infesting the state, the western bean cutworm is one of them, feeding on beans.
Large Moths: Cecropia Moth,Polyphemus Moth , White-lined Sphinx Moth
Here is the list of moths found in South Dakota arranged in order of the family they belong.
Hawk Moths
- White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)
- Titan Sphinx Moth (Aellopos titan)
- Spurge Hawk-moth (Hyles euphorbiae)
- Waved Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia undulosa)
- Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis)
- Nessus Sphinx Moth (Amphion floridensis)
- Lettered Sphinx Moth (Deidamia inscriptum)
- Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth (Darapsa myron)
- Achemon sphinx (Eumorpha achemon)
- Pandora sphinx (Eumorpha pandoris)
- Five-spotted Hawk Moth (Manduca quinquemaculatus)
- Small-eyed Sphinx Moth (Paonias myops)
- Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth (Smerinthus jamaicensis)
- Great Ash Sphinx Moth (Sphinx chersis)
- Laurel Sphinx Moth (Sphinx kalmiae)
- Vashti Sphinx Moth (Sphinx vashti)
Owlet Moths
- Western Bean Cutworm Moth ( Striacosta albicosta)
- Tessellate Dart Moth (Euxoa tessellate)
- Setaceous Hebrew Character Moth (Xestia c-nigrum)
- Dingy Cutworm Moth (Feltia jaculifera)
- Short-lined Chocolate Moth (Argyrostis anilis)
- Bristly Cutworm Moth (Lacinipolia renigera)
- Signate Quaker Moth (Tricholita signata)
- Copper Underwing Moth (Amphipyra pyramidoides)
- Northern Burdock Borer Moth (Papaipema arctivorens)
- Armyworm Moth (Mythimna unipuncta)
- Many-lined Wainscot Moth (Leucania multilinea)
- White Cutworm Moth (Euxoa scandens)
- Silver-banded Gem Moth (Schinia cumatilis)
Saturniidae Moths
- Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)
- Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
Snout Moths
- Sunflower Moth (Homoeosoma ellectellum)
- Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis)
Crambid Snout Moths
- Snowy Urola Moth (Urola nivalis)
- Celery Leaftier Moth (Udea rubigalis)
Lappet Moths
- Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria)
- Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americanum)
- Large Tolype Moth (Tolype velleda)
- American Lappet Moth (Phyllodesma Americana)
Geometer Moths
- Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Moth (Xanthorhoe ferrugata)
- Renounced Hydriomena Moth (Hydriomena renunciata)
- Snowy Geometer Moth (Eugonobapta nivosaria)
- Day Emerald Moth (Mesothea incertata)
- Large Maple Spanworm Moth (Prochoerodes lineola)
- Wavy-lined Emerald Moth (Synchlora aerata)
- Blackberry Looper Moth (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria)
- Engrailed Moth (Ectropis crepuscularia)
- Scallop Moth (Cepphis armataria)
- Maple Spanworm Moth (Ennomos magnaria)
- The Beggar Moth (Eubaphe mendica)
- Confused Eusarca Moth (Eusarca confusaria)
- Chickweed Geometer Moth (Haematopsis grataria)
- Honest Pero Moth (Pero honestaria)
Erebidae Moths
- The Herald Moth (Scoliopteryx libatrix)
- Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)
- Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle)
- Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa)
- Lined Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia lineata)
- Toothed Somberwing Moth (Euclidia cuspidea)
- Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)
- Alabama Underwing Moth (Catocala alabamae)
- Sweetheart Underwing Moth (Catocala amatrix)
- Three-staffed Underwing Moth (Catocala amestris)
- Darling Underwing Moth (Catocala cara)
- Sleepy Underwing Moth (Catocala concumbens)
- Woody Underwing Moth (Catocala grynea)
- Betrothed Underwing Moth (Catocala innubens)
- Mother Underwing Moth (Catocala parta)
- Ultronia underwing Moth (Catocala ultronia)
- Whitney’s Underwing Moth (Catocala whitneyi)
- Painted Lichen Moth (Hypoprepia fucosa)
- Scarlet Winged Lichen Moth (Hypoprepia miniata)
- Confusing Haploa Moth (Haploa confusa)
- LeConte’s Haploa Moth (Haploa lecontei)
- Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia Isabella)
Plumed Moths
- Morning-glory Plume Moth (Emmelina monodactyla)
Tortrix Moths
- Oblique Banded Leaf Roller Moth (Choristoneura rosaceana)
Prominent Moths
- Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth (Datana ministra)
- Gray Furcula Moth (Furcula cinerea)
- White-dotted Prominent Moth (Nadata gibbosa)
- Elegant Prominent Moth (Odontosia elegans)
- Black-rimmed Prominent Moth (Pheosia rimosa)
