Many moths are the expected dull, flat tan, brown and gray. But Pennsylvania is home to some that are brightly colored and patterned. Here are 17 beauties.
Rosy maple moth
Rosy maple moth
Dryocampa rubicunda
Wingspan: 1.25-2.25 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Maple, oak.
Habitat: Deciduous forests.
Conservation needs Globally secure; occasional population explosions, with defoliation of host trees.
Scarlet-winged lichen moth
Scarlet-winged lichen moth
Hypoprepia miniate
Wingspan: .5-.75 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Lichens.
Habitat: Woodlands, especially coniferous.
Conservation needs: Globally secure.
Luna moth
Luna moth
Actias luna
Wingspan: 2.75-4.25 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Including birch, hickory, persimmon, sumac, sweet gun, walnut.
Habitat: Deciduous forests and nearby.
Conservation need: Secure globally.
Cecropia moth
Cecropia moth
Hyalophora cecropia
Wingspan: 4.75-5.76 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Including alder, apple, birch, box elder, cherry, dogwood, plum, sugar maple, willow.
Habitat: Successional habitats, including urban and suburban.
Conservation need: Secure globally.
Io moth
Io moth
Automeris io
Wingspan: 2.25-3.25 inches.
Host pants for caterpillar: Including blackberry, currant, hackberry, pear, redbud, willow.
Habitat: Deciduous forests, suburban areas.
Conservation need: Secure globally.
Virgin tiger moth
Virgin tiger moth
Grammia virgo
Wingspan: 1.25-2 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Wide range of plants.
Habitat: Woodlands, suburban.
Conservation need: Secure globally.
Eight-spotted forester
Eight-spotted Forester
Alypia octomaculata
Wingspan: 1.25-1.5 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Grape, Virginia creeper.
Habitat: Woodlands.
Conservation need: Secure globally; can be an agricultural pest.
Obtuse yellow
Obtuse yellow
Azenia obtuse
Wingspan: .5 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Not confirmed.
Habitat: Woodlands, meadows.
Conservation need: Uncommon species.
Polyphemus moth
Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus
Wingspan: 4-5.75 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Including birch, maple, oak, willow.
Habitat: Woodlands, wetlands, suburban, urban, orchards.
Conservation need: Secure globally; can be an agricultural pest.
Great tiger moth
Great tiger moth
Ihinia florida
Wingspan: 1-1.5 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Evening primrose.
Habitat: Grassland.
Conservation need: Globally secure.
Primrose moth
Primrose moth
Schinia florida
Wingspan: 1-1.5 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Evening primrose.
Habitat: Grassland.
Conservation need: Globally secure.
False crocus geometer moth
False crocus geometer moth
Xanthotype urticaria
Wingspan: 1.25-1.5 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Wide ranging, including catnip, dogwood, goldenrod, ground ivy, rhododendron.
Conservation need: Globally secure.
Showy emerald
Showy emerald
Dichorda iridaria
Wingspan: .75-1.25 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Poison ivy, sumac.
Habitat: Woodland edges, grasslands.
Conservation need: Globally secure.
Ailanthus webworm moth
Ailanthus webworm moth
Atteva aurea
Wingspan: .75 to 1.5 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Ailanthus, paradise tree.
Habitat: Woodland edges, suburban, urban.
Conservation need: Globally secure.
Achemon sphinx moth
Achemon sphinx
Eumorpha achemon
Wingspan: 3.25-3.755 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Ampelopsis, grape.
Habitat: Woodlands, scrublands, suburban.
Conservation need: Globally secure; can be pests in vineyards.
Great leopard moth
Great leopard moth
Hypercompe scribonia
Wingspan: 2.25-3.5 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Wide variety, including cabbage, cherry, dandelion, maple, sunflower, violet, willow.
Habitat: Woodlands, agricultural areas, suburban.
Conservation need: Globally secure.
Imperial moth
Imperial moth
Eacles imperialis
Wingspan: 3.25-7 inches.
Host plants for caterpillar: Variety of trees and shrubs, including box elder, maple, oak, pine, sassafras, sweet gum.
Habitat: Forests.
Conservation need: Globally secure.
