Moths in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has more than 200 moth species, most of them belonging to the Noctuidae (owlet moth) and Geometridae (geometer moth) families. Moths of the Saturniidae family also live here, but not in large numbers. For instance, the luna moth thrives in the state for just about two generations, one in April and the other in June. The infestation of the gypsy moth dwelling here since 1869 has been a significant problem, with the latter causing immense damage to trees. The white brown-tail moth is another invasive species here affecting apple, pear, oak, and maple trees.

Big Moths:  Imperial Moth, Buck Moth, Greater Red Dart Moth

Here is the list of moths found in Massachusetts arranged in order of the family they belong to.

Moths in Massachusetts (MA)

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Owlet Moths                                                  

  • Greater Red Dart Moth (Abagrotis alternate)
  • Yankee Dart Moth (Abagrotis brunneipennis)
  • One-dotted Dart Moth (Abagrotis magnicupida)
  • Coastland Heathland Cutworm Moth (Abagrotis nefascia)
  • Distinct Quaker Moth (Achatia distincta)
  • Oak Leaftier Moth (Acleris semipurpurana)
  • Eastern Blackheaded Budworm Moth (Acleris variana)
  • Afflicted Dagger Moth (Acronicta afflicta)
  • Barrens Dagger Moth (Acronicta albarufa)
  • Hesitant Dagger Moth (Acronicta haesitata)
  • Forked Dagger Moth (Acronicta hasta)
  • Unclear Dagger Moth (Acronicta inclara)
  • Raspberry Bud Dagger Moth (Acronicta increta)
  • Streaked Dagger Moth (Acronicta lithospila)
  • Medium Dagger Moth (Acronicta modica)
  • Four-barred Gray Dagger Moth (Aethalura intertexta)
  • Dark Sword-grass Moth (Agrotis ipsilon)
  • Drunk Apamea Moth (Apamea inebriate)
  • Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
  • Slow Spoke Moth (Athetis tarda)
  • Common Looper Moth (Autographa precationis)
  • Silver-spotted Fern Moth (Callopistria cordata)
  • Pink-shaded Fern Moth (Callopistria mollissima)
  • Waxed Sallow Moth (Chaetaglaea cerata)
  • Cloaked Marvel Moth (Chytonix palliatricula)
  • Closebanded Yellowhorn Moth (Colocasia propinquilinea)
  • Dusky Groundling Moth (Condica vecors)
  • American Dun-bar Moth (Cosmia calami)
  • Alternate Woodling Moth (Egira alternans)
  • Festive Midget Moth (Elaphria festivoides)
  • Variegated Midget Moth (Elaphria versicolor)
  • American Angle Shades Moth (Euplexia benesimilis)
  • Southern Scurfy Quaker Moth (Homorthodes lindseyi)
  • Common Hyppa Moth (Hyppa xylinoides)
  • Black Zale Moth (Zale undularis)
  • Modest Quaker Moth (Ulolonche modesta)

Geometer Moths

  • Fall Cankerworm Moth (Alsophila pometaria)
  • Common Gray Moth (Anavitrinella pampinaria)
  • Variable Antepione Moth (Antepione thisoaria)
  • Straw Besma Moth (Besma endropiaria)
  • Oak Besma Moth (Besma quercivoraria)
  • Northern Pine Looper Moth (Caripeta piniata)
  • Green Pug Moth (Pasiphila rectangulata)
  • Mottled Gray Carpet Moth (Cisthene packardii)
  • Sweetfern Geometer Moth (Cyclophora pendulinaria)
  • Least-marked Euchlaena (Euchlaena irraria)
  • Pine Powder Moth (Eufidonia convergaria)
  • Powder Moth (Eufidonia notataria)
  • White Eulithis (Eulithis explanata)
  • Curve-toothed Geometer Moth (Eutrapela clemataria)
  • Common Spring Moth (Heliomata cycladata)
  • Esther Moth (Hypagyrtis esther)
  • One-spotted Variant Moth (Hypagyrtis unipunctata)
  • Large Purplish Gray Moth (Iridopsis vellivolata)
  • Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth (Speranza pustularia)

Saturniidae Moths

Erebidae Moths

  • Agreeable Tiger Moth (Spilosoma congrua)
  • Brown-tail Moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea)
  • Virginia TIger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)
  • Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)
  • Nais Tiger Moth (Apantesis nais)
  • Bent-winged Owlet Moth (Bleptina caradrinalis)
  • Angus’ Underwing Moth (Catocala angusi)
  • Hawthorn Underwing (Catocala crataegi)
  • Dejected Underwing Moth (Catocala dejecta)
  • Mourning Underwing Moth (Catocala flebilis)
  • Herodias Underwing Moth (Catocala herodias)
  • Tearful Underwing Moth (Catocala lacrymosa)
  • Miranda Underwing Moth (Catocala miranda)
  • Obscure Underwing Moth (Catocala obscura)
  • Serene Underwing Moth (Catocala serena)
  • Morbid Owlet Moth (Chytolita morbidalis)
  • Packard’s Lichen Moth (Cisthene packardii)
  • Figure-seven Moth (Drasteria grandirena)
  • Figured Tiger Moth (Grammia figurata)
  • Broken-line Hypenodes Moth (Hypenodes fractilinea)
  • White-lined Graylet Moth (Hyperstrotia villificans )
  • Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea)
  • Common Idia Moth (Idia aemula)
  • American Idia Moth (Idia americalis)
  • Julia’s Idia Moth (Idia Julia)
  • Chocolate Idia Moth (Idia rotundalis )
  • Yellowish Zanclognatha (Zanclognatha marcidilinea)

Snout Moths

  • Posturing Arta Moth (Arta statalis)

Tuft Moths

  • Eyed Baileya (Baileya ophthalmica)

Hawk Moths

  • Azalea Sphinx Moth (Darapsa choerilus)
  • Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe)
  • Lettered Sphinx Moth (Deidamia inscriptum)
  • Pawpaw Sphinx Moth (Dolba hyloeus)
  • Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis)
  • Slender Clearwing Moth (Hemaris gracilis)

Hooktip Moths

  • Arched Hooktip Moth (Drepana arcuata)

Prominent Moths

  • Saddled Prominent Moth (Heterocampa guttivitta)
  • White-blotched Heterocampa Moth (Heterocampa umbrata)
  • Georgian Prominent Moth (Hyperaeschra georgica)

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