Moths in Montana

At the onset of summer, Montana becomes home to several moth species, be it the pretty white-lined sphinx moth distinguishable by its pink stripes or the Achemon sphinx moth displaying a prominent eyespot. Most of them inhabit gardens. The army cutworm moth (miller moth’s caterpillar stage), considered an infamous pest here spotted between July and August, infest garages and homes.

Common Moths:  White-lined Sphinx Moth, Army Cutworm Moth, Achemon Sphinx Moth

Large Moths: Polyphemus Moth, White-lined Sphinx Moth, Great Ash Sphinx Moth

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

Hawk Moths

• Achemon Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha achemon)
• Big Poplar Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx occidentalis)
• Blinded Sphinx Moth (Paonias excaecatus)
• Clark’s Sphinx Moth (Proserpinus clarkiae)
• Elegant Sphinx Moth (Sphinx perelegans)
• Elm Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia amyntor)
• Galium Sphinx Moth (Hyles gallii)
• Great Ash Sphinx Moth (Sphinx chersis)
• Juanita Sphinx Moth (Proserpinus juanita)
• One-eyed Sphinx Moth (Smerinthus cerisyi)
• Rocky Mountain Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thetis)
• Small-eyed Sphinx Moth (Paonias myops)
• Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis)
• Spurge Hawkmoth (Hyles euphorbiae)
• Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth (Smerinthus jamaicensis)
• Waved Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia undulosa)
• Western Poplar Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx occidentalis)
• White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineate)
• Wild Cherry Sphinx Moth (Sphinx drupiferarum)
• Modest Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx modesta)

Erebidae Moths

• Forage Looper Moth (Caenurgina erechtea)
• American Idia Moth (Idia americalis)
• Nevada Tiger Moth (Grammia nevadensis)
• Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata)
• Douglas Fir Tussock Moth (Orgyia pseudotsugata)
• Alfalfa Looper Moth (Autographa californica)
• Shadowy Arches Moth (Drasteria adumbrate)

Prominent Moths

• Black Rimmed Prominent Moth (Pheosia rimosa)

Owlet Moths

• Dingy Cutworm Moth (Feltia jaculifera)
• Great Black-letter Dart Moth (Xestia dolosa)
• Yellow Headed Cutworm (Apamea amputatrix)
• Army Cutworm Moth (Euxoa auxiliaris)

Many-plumed Moths

• Mountain Six Plume Moth (Alucita Montana)

Geometer Moths

• Dark Marbled Carpet Moth (Dysstroma citrate)
• Dark Bordered Granite Moth (Digrammia neptaria)
• Wavy Lined Emerald Moth (Synchlora aerate)
• Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)

Lappet Moths

• Western Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma californicum)

Tortrix Moths

• Jack Pine Budworm Moth (Choristoneura pinus)
• Sugar Pine Tortrix Moth (Choristoneura lambertiana)

Saturniidae Moths

• Polyphemous Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)

Plume Moths

• Yarrow Plume Moth (Gillmeria pallidactyla)