Butterflies and Moths of Ohio

1516 Species Recorded in Ohio

Top 20 Species Checklist All Photographs

Featured Species

Junonia coenia

100 Most Recent Sightings in Ohio

Use the Data Explorer to explore all sightings in Ohio.

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Most Recent Sightings in Ohio

See more recent sightings in Ohio

Clover Looper Moth
Caenurgina crassiuscula

Observed: Aug 12, 2026

Submitted by: Tam Stage

Verified: Aug 14, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

Observed: Aug 12, 2026

Submitted by: Tam Stage

Verified: Aug 14, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Observed: Aug 09, 2026

Submitted by: melinamtopp

Verified: Aug 11, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Lucerne Moth
Nomophila nearctica

Observed: Aug 09, 2026

Submitted by: melinamtopp

Verified: Aug 11, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis astyanax

Observed: Aug 09, 2026

Submitted by: bimboinlimbo

Verified: Aug 14, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Observed: Aug 09, 2026

Submitted by: Michayla Lovitt

Verified: Aug 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Observed: Aug 09, 2026

Submitted by: Michayla Lovitt

Verified: Aug 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Observed: Aug 09, 2026

Submitted by: Michayla Lovitt

Verified: Aug 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Sycamore Tussock Moth
Halysidota harrisii

Observed: Aug 09, 2026

Submitted by: Michayla Lovitt

Verified: Aug 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Io moth
Automeris io

Observed: Aug 09, 2026

Submitted by: Michayla Lovitt

Verified: Aug 09, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Box Tree Moth
Cydalima perspectalis

Observed: Aug 08, 2026

Submitted by: melinamtopp

Verified: Aug 08, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

The Penitent Underwing
Catocala piatrix

Observed: Aug 08, 2026

Submitted by: Bildo2026

Verified: Aug 08, 2026

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Top 10 Commonly Reported Butterflies and Moths of Ohio

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.
Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes	Upper surface of wings mostly black; on inner edge of hindwing is a black spot centered in larger orange spot. Male has yellow band near edge of wings; female has row of yellow spots. Female hindwing with iridescent blue band. In the Southwest, yellow forms predominate in the subspecies P. coloro.
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.
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.
Cabbage White Pieris rapae	Upperside of wings white; forewing with black tip. Two submarginal black spots in female, one in male. Underside of hindwing and forewing apex evenly yellow-green or gray-green. Spring and fall short-day form is smaller, less yellow, with reduced black areas.
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.
Zabulon Skipper Poanes zabulon	Male black borders and no stigma. Underside of hindwing is mostly yellow with a dark brown wingbase and outer margin. Female: Upperside is purple-brown with pale yellow spots; underside of hindwing is brown and purple-gray with a white-edged costal margin.
'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax

Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

1516 Species Recorded in Ohio

Featured Species

Junonia coenia

100 Most Recent Sightings in Ohio

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

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Ohio

Clover Looper Moth
Caenurgina crassiuscula

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Lucerne Moth
Nomophila nearctica

'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis astyanax

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Sycamore Tussock Moth
Halysidota harrisii

Io moth
Automeris io

Box Tree Moth
Cydalima perspectalis

The Penitent Underwing
Catocala piatrix

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta

Zabulon Skipper
Poanes zabulon

'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis astyanax

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Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Butterflies and Moths of Ohio

1516 Species Recorded in Ohio

Featured Species

100 Most Recent Sightings in Ohio

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Ohio

Clover Looper MothCaenurgina crassiuscula

Polyphemus mothAntheraea polyphemus

Silver-spotted SkipperEpargyreus clarus

Lucerne MothNomophila nearctica

'Astyanax' Red-spotted PurpleLimenitis arthemis astyanax

Silver-spotted SkipperEpargyreus clarus

Eastern Tiger SwallowtailPapilio glaucus

MonarchDanaus plexippus

Sycamore Tussock MothHalysidota harrisii

Io mothAutomeris io

Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalis

The Penitent UnderwingCatocala piatrix

MonarchDanaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger SwallowtailPapilio glaucus

Black SwallowtailPapilio polyxenes

Pearl CrescentPhyciodes tharos

Silver-spotted SkipperEpargyreus clarus

Eastern Tailed-BlueCupido comyntas

Cabbage WhitePieris rapae

Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta

Zabulon SkipperPoanes zabulon

'Astyanax' Red-spotted PurpleLimenitis arthemis astyanax

Clover Looper Moth
Caenurgina crassiuscula

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Lucerne Moth
Nomophila nearctica

'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis astyanax

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Sycamore Tussock Moth
Halysidota harrisii

Io moth
Automeris io

Box Tree Moth
Cydalima perspectalis

The Penitent Underwing
Catocala piatrix

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta

Zabulon Skipper
Poanes zabulon

'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis astyanax