Butterflies and Moths of Wisconsin

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.

1848 Species Recorded in Wisconsin

Top 20 Species Checklist All Photographs

Featured Species

Lycaena hyllus

100 Most Recent Sightings in Wisconsin

Use the Data Explorer to explore all sightings in Wisconsin.

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Most Recent Sightings in Wisconsin

See more recent sightings in Wisconsin

Fall Webworm Moth
Hyphantria cunea

Observed: Jul 10, 2026

Submitted by: drmarc60223

Verified: Jul 11, 2026

Verified by: jwileyrains

Details

Turbulent Phosphila
Phosphila turbulenta

Observed: Jul 10, 2026

Submitted by: drmarc60223

Verified: Jul 11, 2026

Verified by: jwileyrains

Details

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Observed: Jun 23, 2026

Submitted by: David Allen Jones

Verified: Jun 23, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta

Observed: Jun 20, 2026

Submitted by: mtobin11

Verified: Jun 25, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Observed: Jun 20, 2026

Submitted by: mtobin11

Verified: Jun 25, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis

Observed: Jun 19, 2026

Submitted by: David Allen Jones

Verified: Jun 23, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Northern Crescent
Phyciodes cocyta

Observed: Jun 18, 2026

Submitted by: David Allen Jones

Verified: Jun 23, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta

Observed: Jun 18, 2026

Submitted by: drmarc60223

Verified: Jun 23, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis

Observed: Jun 18, 2026

Submitted by: drmarc60223

Verified: Jun 24, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Tawny Emperor
Asterocampa clyton

Observed: Jun 18, 2026

Submitted by: drmarc60223

Verified: Jun 24, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma

Observed: Jun 18, 2026

Submitted by: drmarc60223

Verified: Jun 23, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Meadow Fritillary
Boloria bellona

Observed: Jun 18, 2026

Submitted by: drmarc60223

Verified: Jun 23, 2026

Verified by: jmgesell

Details

Top 10 Commonly Reported Butterflies and Moths of Wisconsin

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.
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.
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta	Upperside is black with white spots near the apex; forewing with red median band, hindwing with red marginal band. The winter form is smaller and duller, summer form larger and brighter with an interrupted forewing band.
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.
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.
Viceroy Limenitis archippus	Upperside is orange and black, resembling the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), except the Viceroy has a black line across the hindwing and a single row of white dots in the black marginal band. Where Monarchs are rare in Florida, Georgia, and the Southwest, Viceroys are brown instead of orange and mimic the Queen (Danaus gilippus).
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui	Upperside is orange-brown with darker wing bases; forewing with black apex patch and white bar on leading edge; hindwing submarginal row of 5 small black spots sometimes has blue scales. Underside has a black, brown, and gray pattern with 4 small submarginal eyespots.
Peck's Skipper Polites peckius	Upperside of male is brown with reddish-orange patches; forewing has a sinuous stigma. Female is darker with no stigma. Underside of the hindwing of both sexes has a patch of large yellow spots in the center surrounded by dark brown.
Lucerne Moth Nomophila nearctica	Forewing narrow, rounded at tip, brown with fine grayish brown veins and streaks. Heaviest markings are large grayish brown orbicular, claviform, and reniform spots and curved midsection of pm. line. Hindwing lighter, unmarked.

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.

1848 Species Recorded in Wisconsin

Featured Species

Lycaena hyllus

100 Most Recent Sightings in Wisconsin

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

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Wisconsin

Fall Webworm Moth
Hyphantria cunea

Turbulent Phosphila
Phosphila turbulenta

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta

Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis

Northern Crescent
Phyciodes cocyta

Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta

Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis

Tawny Emperor
Asterocampa clyton

Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma

Meadow Fritillary
Boloria bellona

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Viceroy
Limenitis archippus

Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui

Peck's Skipper
Polites peckius

Lucerne Moth
Nomophila nearctica

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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 Wisconsin

1848 Species Recorded in Wisconsin

Featured Species

100 Most Recent Sightings in Wisconsin

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Wisconsin

Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cunea

Turbulent PhosphilaPhosphila turbulenta

MonarchDanaus plexippus

Summer AzureCelastrina neglecta

Cabbage WhitePieris rapae

Canadian Tiger SwallowtailPapilio canadensis

Northern CrescentPhyciodes cocyta

Summer AzureCelastrina neglecta

Hackberry EmperorAsterocampa celtis

Tawny EmperorAsterocampa clyton

Eastern CommaPolygonia comma

Meadow FritillaryBoloria bellona

MonarchDanaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger SwallowtailPapilio glaucus

Pearl CrescentPhyciodes tharos

Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta

Silver-spotted SkipperEpargyreus clarus

Eastern Tailed-BlueCupido comyntas

ViceroyLimenitis archippus

Painted LadyVanessa cardui

Peck's SkipperPolites peckius

Lucerne MothNomophila nearctica

Fall Webworm Moth
Hyphantria cunea

Turbulent Phosphila
Phosphila turbulenta

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta

Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis

Northern Crescent
Phyciodes cocyta

Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta

Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis

Tawny Emperor
Asterocampa clyton

Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma

Meadow Fritillary
Boloria bellona

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Viceroy
Limenitis archippus

Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui

Peck's Skipper
Polites peckius

Lucerne Moth
Nomophila nearctica