Kinds of Moths

There are more than 100 families of moths and a vast number of species. Most are drab in color, but some have beautiful markings. Most moths are attracted to light; some will fly so close to a hot light bulb or open flame that they burn to death.

Among the more common or important moth families in the United States and Canada are the following:

See The Tiger Moths, in this list.

are best represented by the common, or evergreen, bagworm. The adult male page B-541) has a black, slender body and transparent wings. The female has no legs, wings, or antennae, and dies shortly after laying the eggs. The caterpillars weave baglike cases that hang from tree twigs. The caterpillars feed on such evergreens as cedar and in large numbers can do serious damage.

Family: Psychidae. The common bagworm is Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis.

have narrow, partly transparent wings. They resemble wasps in shape and coloring. Unlike most moths, the clearwings fly during the day. The larvae bore into stems, bark, and roots of woody plants and some species do serious damage.

Family: Sesiidae. Example:

(Synanthedon exitiosa). Adult has blue body with yellow stripes. Larvae attack peach trees, doing millions of dollars' worth of damage each year. Feed under bark, killing young trees and weakening older ones.

are delicate, small moths with wingspans of less than one inch (25 mm). The adults do not feed. Unlike most moths, clothes moths avoid light, seeking dark places. The white larvae feed on dried vegetable and animal substances. Besides clothing, clothes moths destroy rugs, upholstery, and fur.

Family: Tineidae. Examples:

(Tinea pellionella). Grayish-yellow. Fringe of hairs along rear of hind wings. Larvae make cases, or shells, in which they complete their growth over summer and hibernate in winter; they pupate in the spring.

(Tineola bisselliella). Most common clothes moth. Wings more yellow than in casemaking species. Both sets of wings are fringed. Larvae leave weblike trails of silk as they move about.

are best represented by the leopard moth. It is native to Europe. Its larvae bore into fruit and shade trees.

Family: Cossidae. The leopard moth is Zeuzera pyrina.

The most important type is the cankerworm.

Family: Geometridae.

See The Saturniids, in this list.

include the white-lined sphinx and hog sphinx —and the tomato hornworm, which attacks tomato and tobacco plants. When at rest, the caterpillar usually lifts up the whole front of its body and folds down its head toward the thorax. This posture somewhat resembles that of the Sphinx of Egypt.

Family: Sphingidae. The white-lined sphinx is Hyles lineata; the hog sphinx, Darapsa myron; the tomato hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata.

The Lasiocampids. An example is the tent caterpillar.

Family: Lasiocampidae.

See The Geometers, in this list.

are similar to the tortricids and are sometimes included in the tortricid family. Some, such as the codling moth, are serious pests.

Family: Olethreutidae.

with more than 20,000 species, make up the largest family. The fore wings are gray or brown, striped or spotted. The hind wings are usually paler and without pattern. Many owlet caterpillars are highly destructive farm pests.

Family: Noctuidae. Examples:

The catepillar of any of several species of owlet moths.

One of the worst pests in the United States.

The catepillar of any of several species of owlet moth.

are so named because of their wing posture when at rest—the fore wings cover the hind ones. Popular with collectors. The ilia underwing is Catocala ilia; the white underwing. C. relicta.)

have snoutlike mouthparts. The wingspan is about 34 inch (19 mm). The larvae feed on grain and grain products.

Family: Pyralidae. Examples:

A destructive catepillar that attacks the stalks and ears of corn.

(Crambus luteoiellus). Straw-colored. When at rest, it rolls wings oround body. Adults do not feed. Common in grasslands east of the Rocky Mountains. Larvae are called webworms.