Moths in Minnesota

Minnesota is home to several beautiful moths like the green luna moth having a flowing tail, and the painted lichen moth with a colorful appearance. The cecropia moth with a wingspan of about 6 inches is the state’s largest. Once, a hiker spotting the cecropia while crossing a particular Minnesota trail described it as big as a monster.

The European gypsy moth also thrives here, particularly, in the western and eastern parts of the state, mostly infesting shrubs and deciduous trees.

Common Moths: Isabella Tiger Moth, Cecropia Moth, Polyphemus Moth

Large Moths: Cecropia Moth, Polyphemus Moth, European Gypsy Moth

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

Erebidae Moths

• European Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)
• Virginia Ctenucha Moth (Ctenucha virginica)
• Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)
• White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)
• Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata)
• Painted Lichen Moth (Hypoprepia fucosa)
• White Underwing Moth (Catocala relicta)
• American Idia Moth (Idia americalis)
• Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea)
• Leconte’s Haploa (Haploa lecontei)

Saturniidae Moths

• Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)
• Luna Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)
• Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)

Hawk Moths

• White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)
• Modest Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx modesta)
• Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis)
• Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe)
• One-eyed Sphinx Moth (Smerinthus cerisyi)
• Waved Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia undulosa)
• Laurel Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia undulosa)
• Blinded Sphinx Moth (Paonias excaecatus)
• Nessus Sphinx Moth (Amphion floridensis)
• Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth (Hyles euphorbiae)
• Elm Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia amyntor)

Owlet Moths

• Variegated Brindle Moth (Abrostola urentis)
• Glassy Cutworm Moth (Apamea devastator)
• Copper Underwing Moth (Amphipyra pyramidea)
• American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana)
• Bronzed Cutworm Moth (Nephelodes minians)
• Eight-spotted Forester Moth (Alypia octomaculata)
• Celery Looper Moth (Anagrapha falcifera)
• White-speck Moth (Mythimna unipuncta)
• Brother Moth (Raphia frater)
• Colorful Zale Moth (Zale minerea)
• Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth (Orthosia hibisci)
• Henry’s Marsh Moth (Acronicta insularis)

Prominent Moths

• Red-marked Tentmaker Moth (Clostera apicalis)
• Black-rimmed Prominent Moth (Pheosia rimosa)
• Sigmoid Prominent Moth (Clostera albosigma)

Geometer Moths

• White-fringed Emerald Moth (Nemoria mimosaria)
• Chickweed Geometer Moth (Haematopis grataria)
• Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth (Speranza pustularia)
• Large Lace-border Moth (Scopula limboundata)
• White-striped Black Moth (Trichodezia albovittata)
• Gem Moth (Orthonama obstipata)

Crambidae Moths

• Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth (Parapoynx badiusalis)
• Elegant Grass-veneer Moth (Microcrambus elegans)
• Celery Leaftier Moth (Udea rubigalis)
• Lucerne Moth (Nomophila nearctica)

Erebidae Moths

•  Isabella Tiger Moth (Parapoynx badiusalis)
• Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)
• Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra)
• Common Idia Moth (Idia aemula)
• St. Lawrence Tiger Moth (Platarctia parthenos)

Lappet Moths

• Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americanum)

Clearwing Moths

• Squash Vine Borer (Melittia cucurbitae)

Tortrix Moths

• Oblique Banded Leaf Roller (Melittia cucurbitae)

Plume Moths

• Yarrow Plume Moth (Gillmeria pallidactyla)