Moths in Kentucky
There are over 300 moth species in Kentucky, of which a few of them are documented. The beautiful green luna moth of the Saturniidae family is rarely seen here, occurring two generations per year. Many species from the Sphingidae family, like the white-lined sphinx moth and hummingbird clearwing moth, also thrive here. The meal moth of the Pyralidae family majorly infesting stored food is even found in Kentucky.
Large Moths: Luna Moth, White-lined Sphinx Moth, Pink-striped Oakworm Moth
Here is the list of moths found in Kentucky arranged in order of the family they belong.
Saturniidae Moths
- Luna Moth (Actias luna)
- Bisected Honey Locust Moth (Sphingicampa bisecta)
- Pink-striped Oakworm Moth (Anisota virginiensis)
Crambid Snout Moths
- White-spotted Brown Moth (Diastictis ventralis)
- Changeable Grass-veneer Moth (Fissicrambus mutabilis)
- Raspberry Pyrausta Moth (Pyrausta signatalis)
- Grape Leaffolder Moth (Desmia funeralis)
Erebidae Moths
- Scarlet-winged Lichen Moth (Hypoprepia miniata)
- Sad Underwing Moth (Catocala maestosa)
- Harnessed Tiger Moth (Apantesis phalerata)
- Gray-edged Bomolocha Moth (Hypena madefactalis)
- Sad Underwing Moth (Catocala maestosa)
- Long-Streaked Tussock Moth (Leucanopsis longa)
- Gray-eyed Bomolocha Moth (Hypena madefactalis)
- White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)
- Curved-line Owlet Moth (Phyprosopus callitrichoides)
Snout Moths
- Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis)
- Dimorphic Macalla Moth (Epipaschia superatalis)
- Dimorphic Tosale Moth (Tosale oviplagalis)
Hawk Moths
- Small-eyed Sphinx Moth (Paonias myops)
- Blinded Sphinx Moth (Paonias excaecatus)
- Plebeian Sphinx Moth (Paratrea plebeja)
- Carolina Sphinx Moth (Manduca sexta)
- Catalpa Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia catalpa)
- Apple Sphinx Moth (Sphinx gordius)
- Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe)
- White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)
Tube Moths
- Cresson’s Grass Tubeworm Moth (Acrolophus cressoni)
Twirler Moths
- Stripe-backed Moth (Arogalea cristifasciella)
Tortrix Moths
- Maple Bud Borer Moth (Proteoteras moffatiana)
Prominent Moths
- Drab Prominent Moth (Misogada unicolor)
Owlet Moths
- Afflicted Dagger Moth (Acronicta afflicta)
- Bordered Sallow Moth (Pyrrhia umbra)
- Greater Black-letter Dart Moth (Xestia dolosa)
- Birch Dagger Moth (Acronicta betulae)
- Southern Spragueia Moth (Southern Spragueia)
- Multicolored Sedgeminer Moth (Meropleon diversicolor)
- Pink-barred Lithacodia Moth (Pseudeustrotia carneola)
- Ruddy Dagger Moth (Acronicta rubricoma)
- Black-bordered Owlet Moth (Marimatha nigrofimbria)
Cossid Millers Moths
Geometer Moths
- Red-Bordered Wave Moth (Idaea demissaria)
- Four-spotted Angle Moth (Trigrammia quadrinotaria)
- Unadorned Carpet Moth (Hydrelia inornata)
- Chickweed Geometer Moth (Haematopis grataria)
Cup Moths
- Smaller Parasa Moth (Parasa chloris)
Sedge Moths
- Yellow Nutsedge Moth (Diploschizia impigritella)
