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

Luna moth
Actias luna

Observed: Jun 05, 2026

Submitted by: Carol52

Verified: Jun 05, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Clover Looper Moth
Caenurgina crassiuscula

Observed: Jun 03, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jun 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Unicorn Caterpillar Moth
Coelodasys unicornis

Observed: May 31, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jun 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Banded Tussock Moth or Pale Tiger Moth
Halysidota tessellaris

Observed: May 27, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jun 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Pink-barred Pseudeustrotia
Pseudeustrotia carneola

Observed: May 27, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jun 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Nola cereella

Observed: May 26, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: Jun 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Luna moth
Actias luna

Observed: May 26, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: May 30, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Observed: May 26, 2026

Submitted by: von40827

Verified: May 27, 2026

Verified by: CA Ivy

Details

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Malacosoma americanum

Observed: May 17, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: May 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Common Idia Moth
Idia aemula

Observed: May 17, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: May 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Grateful Midget
Elaphria grata

Observed: May 17, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: May 22, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Bluegrass Webworm Moth
Parapediasia teterrella

Observed: May 17, 2026

Submitted by: Moth_Observer01

Verified: May 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.
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.
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.
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

Luna moth
Actias luna

Clover Looper Moth
Caenurgina crassiuscula

Unicorn Caterpillar Moth
Coelodasys unicornis

Banded Tussock Moth or Pale Tiger Moth
Halysidota tessellaris

Pink-barred Pseudeustrotia
Pseudeustrotia carneola

Nola cereella

Luna moth
Actias luna

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Malacosoma americanum

Common Idia Moth
Idia aemula

Grateful Midget
Elaphria grata

Bluegrass Webworm Moth
Parapediasia teterrella

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme

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

Luna mothActias luna

Clover Looper MothCaenurgina crassiuscula

Unicorn Caterpillar MothCoelodasys unicornis

Banded Tussock Moth or Pale Tiger MothHalysidota tessellaris

Pink-barred PseudeustrotiaPseudeustrotia carneola

Luna mothActias luna

Great Spangled FritillarySpeyeria cybele

Eastern Tent Caterpillar MothMalacosoma americanum

Common Idia MothIdia aemula

Grateful MidgetElaphria grata

Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrella

Eastern Tiger SwallowtailPapilio glaucus

Pearl CrescentPhyciodes tharos

Eastern Tailed-BlueCupido comyntas

Silver-spotted SkipperEpargyreus clarus

MonarchDanaus plexippus

Great Spangled FritillarySpeyeria cybele

Orange SulphurColias eurytheme

SachemAtalopedes campestris

Clouded SulphurColias philodice

Pipevine SwallowtailBattus philenor

Luna moth
Actias luna

Clover Looper Moth
Caenurgina crassiuscula

Unicorn Caterpillar Moth
Coelodasys unicornis

Banded Tussock Moth or Pale Tiger Moth
Halysidota tessellaris

Pink-barred Pseudeustrotia
Pseudeustrotia carneola

Luna moth
Actias luna

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Malacosoma americanum

Common Idia Moth
Idia aemula

Grateful Midget
Elaphria grata

Bluegrass Webworm Moth
Parapediasia teterrella

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme

Sachem
Atalopedes campestris

Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice

Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor