Moths in Washington

Washington is home to some stunningly beautiful moths with the large ones belonging to the silkmoth and hawk moth families. One of the largest moth species found here is the big poplar sphinx moth, while the Polyphemus moth, and ceanothus silkmoth also form a part of the big moth species thriving here. Several underwing moth species like the Aholibah Underwing known for their characteristic yellowish-orange hindwings inhabit here.

Large Moths: Big Poplar Sphinx Moth, Polyphemus Moth, Ceanothus Silkmoth

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

Cossid Millers Moths

• Carpenterworm Moth (Prionoxystus robiniae)

Hawk Moths

• Big Poplar Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx occidentalis)
• Modest Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx modesta)
• Five-spotted Hawk Moth (Manduca quinquemaculata)
• Blinded Sphinx Moth (Paonias excaecatus)
• One-eyed Sphinx Moth (Smerinthus cerisyi)
• White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineate)
• Bedstraw Hawk-moth (Hyles gallii)

Saturniidae Moths

• Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus)
• Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)

Erebidae Moths

• Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar asiatica)
• Aholibah Underwing Moth (Catocala aholibah)