Butterflies and Moths of Kentucky

1703 Species Recorded in Kentucky

Top 20 Species Checklist All Photographs

Featured Species

Polygonia interrogationis

100 Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

Use the Data Explorer to explore all sightings in Kentucky.

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Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

See more recent sightings in Kentucky

Hübner's Pero
Pero ancetaria

Observed: Apr 04, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Meganola phylla

Observed: Apr 04, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Eight-spotted Forester
Alypia octomaculata

Observed: Apr 03, 2026

Submitted by: K. S. Veitch

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

The Gem
Orthonama obstipata

Observed: Mar 19, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Roadside Sallow
Metaxaglaea viatica

Observed: Dec 24, 2025

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Melonworm Moth
Diaphania hyalinata

Observed: Nov 08, 2025

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Implicit Arches
Lacinipolia implicata

Observed: Oct 03, 2025

Submitted by: Jorie

Verified: Oct 04, 2025

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Sparganothis Fruitworm Moth
Sparganothis sulfureana

Observed: Sep 26, 2025

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Clouded Skipper
Lerema accius

Observed: Sep 26, 2025

Submitted by: Robert Kramer

Verified: Sep 27, 2025

Verified by: CA Ivy

Details

Meropleon diversicolor

Observed: Sep 20, 2025

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Porcelain Gray
Protoboarmia porcelaria

Observed: Sep 20, 2025

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Apr 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Observed: Sep 19, 2025

Submitted by: Jorie

Verified: Sep 19, 2025

Verified by: CA Ivy

Details

Top 10 Commonly Reported Butterflies and Moths of Kentucky

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus	Male is yellow with dark tiger stripes. Female has 2 forms: one yellow like the male and the other black with shadows of dark stripes. Hindwing of both female forms has a row of striking blue chevrons and an iridescent blue wash over parts of the interior hindwing. The upperside hindwing has a prominent orange marginal spot that is generally larger than the row of pale marginal spots. On the underside of forewing of spring individuals the row of marginal spots may be merged into a continuous band, thus appearing similar to the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.
Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos	Quite variable. Males usually have black antennal knobs. Upperside is orange with black borders; postmedian and submarginal areas are crossed by fine black marks. Underside of hindwing has a dark marginal patch containing a light-colored crescent. Spring and fall broods (form marcia) have a gray mottled hindwing below.
Eastern Tailed-Blue Cupido comyntas	One narrow tail on hindwing. Upperside of male iridescent blue; summer females uniformly brown, spring females smaller with much blue at the wing bases. Underside of hindwing pale gray with black bar at end of cell, distinct black spots, and three large orange spots at outer margin near tail.
Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus	Wings are brown-black; hindwing is lobed. Forewing has transparent gold spots; underside of hindwing has a metallic silver band.
Monarch Danaus plexippus	Upperside of male is bright orange with wide black borders and black veins; hindwing has a patch of scent scales. Upperside of female is orange-brown with wide black borders and blurred black veins. Both sexes have white spots on borders and apex. The Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) is a Mullerian mimic; it has similar coloration and is also distasteful.
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme	Quite variable. Upperside of male yellow with orange overlay, yellow veins, wide black border, and dark black cell spot. Female yellow or white with irregular black border surrounding light spots. Underside hindwing spot silver with 2 concentric dark rings, and a spot above it.
Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele	Large. Upperside of male tan to orange with black scales on forewing veins; female tawny, darker than male. Underside of hindwing with wide pale submarginal band and large silver spots.
Sachem Atalopedes campestris	Upperside of male is yellow-orange with a wide brown border and a large squarish black stigma. Female upperside varies from yellow-brown to very dark brown, but always has a square transparent white spot at the end of the forewing cell. Underside of female hindwing is brown with nearly square cream or white spots.
Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice	Upper surface of male wings bright, clear yellow with solid black edging; lower side of forewing with some dark submarginal spots; hindwing with silver cell spot rimmed with orange-pink, usually doubled. Female has 2 forms: yellow form with uneven black edging enclosing yellow spots, and a white form which is greenish-white rather than yellow. Spring and fall forms are smaller and less conspicuously marked.
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor	Upper surface of hindwing iridescent blue or blue-green. Underside of hindwing with submarginal row of 7 round orange spots in iridescent blue field.

Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

1703 Species Recorded in Kentucky

Featured Species

Polygonia interrogationis

100 Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

Check out our new Fall 2025 Classic BAMONA Logo Shirts and cozy Native Plants Hoodies!

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

Hübner's Pero
Pero ancetaria

Meganola phylla

Eight-spotted Forester
Alypia octomaculata

The Gem
Orthonama obstipata

Roadside Sallow
Metaxaglaea viatica

Melonworm Moth
Diaphania hyalinata

Implicit Arches
Lacinipolia implicata

Sparganothis Fruitworm Moth
Sparganothis sulfureana

Clouded Skipper
Lerema accius

Meropleon diversicolor

Porcelain Gray
Protoboarmia porcelaria

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Sachem
Atalopedes campestris

Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice

Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor

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Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Butterflies and Moths of Kentucky

1703 Species Recorded in Kentucky

Featured Species

100 Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

Hübner's PeroPero ancetaria

Eight-spotted ForesterAlypia octomaculata

The GemOrthonama obstipata

Roadside SallowMetaxaglaea viatica

Melonworm MothDiaphania hyalinata

Implicit ArchesLacinipolia implicata

Sparganothis Fruitworm MothSparganothis sulfureana

Clouded SkipperLerema accius

Porcelain GrayProtoboarmia porcelaria

Eastern Tailed-BlueCupido comyntas

Eastern Tiger SwallowtailPapilio glaucus

Pearl CrescentPhyciodes tharos

Eastern Tailed-BlueCupido comyntas

Silver-spotted SkipperEpargyreus clarus

MonarchDanaus plexippus

Orange SulphurColias eurytheme

Great Spangled FritillarySpeyeria cybele

SachemAtalopedes campestris

Clouded SulphurColias philodice

Pipevine SwallowtailBattus philenor

Hübner's Pero
Pero ancetaria

Eight-spotted Forester
Alypia octomaculata

The Gem
Orthonama obstipata

Roadside Sallow
Metaxaglaea viatica

Melonworm Moth
Diaphania hyalinata

Implicit Arches
Lacinipolia implicata

Sparganothis Fruitworm Moth
Sparganothis sulfureana

Clouded Skipper
Lerema accius

Porcelain Gray
Protoboarmia porcelaria

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Sachem
Atalopedes campestris

Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice

Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor