Butterflies and Moths of Kentucky

National Moth Week is July 18-26!

Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live.

1704 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

Northern Pearly-eye
Enodia anthedon

Observed: Jul 19, 2026

Submitted by: von40827

Verified: Jul 21, 2026

Verified by: CA Ivy

Details

Desmia funeralis/maculalis

Observed: Jul 19, 2026

Submitted by: kleigho88

Verified: Jul 19, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Ultronia Underwing
Catocala ultronia

Observed: Jul 14, 2026

Submitted by: Panzer84

Verified: Jul 18, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Eight-spotted Forester
Alypia octomaculata

Observed: Jun 26, 2026

Submitted by: Kayewillis1720

Verified: Jun 27, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Snowberry Clearwing
Hemaris diffinis

Observed: Jun 19, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jul 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Io moth
Automeris io

Observed: Jun 07, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jul 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Dot-lined White
Artace cribraria

Observed: Jun 07, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jul 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

The Neighbor
Haploa contigua

Observed: Jun 07, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jul 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Leconte's Haploa
Haploa lecontei

Observed: Jun 07, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jul 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Diamondback Moth
Plutella xylostella

Observed: Jun 06, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jul 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme

Observed: Jun 06, 2026

Submitted by: zbeckb

Verified: Jul 11, 2026

Verified by: CA Ivy

Details

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

Observed: Jun 05, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jul 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

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

National Moth Week is July 18-26!

Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live.

1704 Species Recorded in Kentucky

Featured Species

Polygonia interrogationis

100 Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

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

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

Northern Pearly-eye
Enodia anthedon

Desmia funeralis/maculalis

Ultronia Underwing
Catocala ultronia

Eight-spotted Forester
Alypia octomaculata

Snowberry Clearwing
Hemaris diffinis

Io moth
Automeris io

Dot-lined White
Artace cribraria

The Neighbor
Haploa contigua

Leconte's Haploa
Haploa lecontei

Diamondback Moth
Plutella xylostella

Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

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

National Moth Week is July 18-26!

Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live.

Butterflies and Moths of Kentucky

1704 Species Recorded in Kentucky

Featured Species

100 Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Kentucky

Northern Pearly-eyeEnodia anthedon

Ultronia UnderwingCatocala ultronia

Eight-spotted ForesterAlypia octomaculata

Snowberry ClearwingHemaris diffinis

Io mothAutomeris io

Dot-lined WhiteArtace cribraria

The NeighborHaploa contigua

Leconte's HaploaHaploa lecontei

Diamondback MothPlutella xylostella

Orange SulphurColias eurytheme

Carpenterworm MothPrionoxystus robiniae

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

Northern Pearly-eye
Enodia anthedon

Ultronia Underwing
Catocala ultronia

Eight-spotted Forester
Alypia octomaculata

Snowberry Clearwing
Hemaris diffinis

Io moth
Automeris io

Dot-lined White
Artace cribraria

The Neighbor
Haploa contigua

Leconte's Haploa
Haploa lecontei

Diamondback Moth
Plutella xylostella

Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme

Carpenterworm Moth
Prionoxystus robiniae

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