Butterflies and Moths
Media
![image of Plume Moth on blade of grass](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2013/06/plumemothdb.jpg?itok=mHLwIYWX)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Nearly 150 species in North America north of Mexico
Description
Slim, delicate plume moths are instantly recognizable by their T-shaped silhouette, long legs, and muted shades of tan and brown. It can be hard to separate the various species.
Media
![Photo of a Celery Looper taking nectar from a flower](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2012/06/c_looper.jpg?itok=NPORf0Ge)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Anagrapha falcifera
Description
Adult celery looper moths look like dead leaves. A closer look reveals subtly gorgeous, ornate patterns on the wings.
Media
![A photo of a Clover Looper.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2012/06/cl_looper.jpg?itok=tbLC_G10)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Caenurgina crassiuscula
Description
Adult clover loopers have distinctive tan mottled markings with brown bands. They typically fold their wings down their backs. The caterpillars eat clovers.
Media
![Photo of an Eight-Spotted Forester on a flower](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2012/06/forester.jpg?itok=aaMig5NS)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Alypia octomaculata
Description
The eight-spotted forester is a spiffy, butterfly-like moth. It is a fast, darting flyer and dazzles the eye when it flitters around flowers.
Media
![Photo of a Morning-Glory Prominent moth](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2012/06/m_gl_prominent.jpg?itok=zp6NCbtF)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Schizura ipomoeae
Description
The morning-glory prominent is common but easily overlooked in Missouri’s woods. The caterpillars mimic curled, dead edges on the leaves they feed on, and the adults blend in with tree bark.
Media
![Photo of a leaffolder moth visiting a flower](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2012/06/leaf_folder.jpg?itok=rZHewb4M)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Desmia spp.
Description
There are nine species of leaffolder moths in North America, and even specialists must labor to separate them.
Media
![Polyphemus Moth, Belton MO](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/webform/20160421_193620.jpg?itok=mwdY7Yud)
Species Types
Scientific Name
About 75 species in North America north of Mexico
Description
Missouri has 16 species of saturniid, or giant silkworm moths. Many of them are spectacular, including the cecropia, luna, buck, io, imperial, polyphemus, rosy maple, spiny oakworm, and royal moths.
Media
![Image of a Cecropia moth.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2012/06/cecropia.jpg?itok=Xdmp5W_A)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Hyalophora cecropia
Description
The cecropia moth looks a lot like butterfly ― but note its feathery antennae and stout, hairy body. This is the largest moth native to North America.
Media
![Photo of a Polyphemus Moth](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2012/06/polyphemus.jpg?itok=nNeOdbs2)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Antheraea polyphemus
Description
The polyphemus is the second-largest Missouri moth. It was named after Homer's giant one-eyed monster in The Odyssey because of the big eyespot on each hindwing.
Media
![A wavy-lined emerald moth resting on a glass window](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Wavy-Lined_Emerald_dorsal_8-27-13.jpg?itok=YlR3SOvq)
Species Types
Scientific Name
About 250 species recorded for Missouri
Description
Geometrid moths usually hold their wide wings spread flat against the surface they’re resting on. The caterpillars in this large family are twig mimics; called inchworms or loopers, they “walk” by humping their backs.
See Also
Media
![image of Caddisfly on leaf](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2013/02/caddisfly.jpg?itok=EatuuL12)
Species Types
Scientific Name
About 1,500 species in North America north of Mexico
Description
Adult caddisflies are mothlike. Their larvae are aquatic and build portable, protective cases out of local materials, including grains of sand, bits of leaves and twigs, and other debris.
Media
![Photo of eastern dobsonfly](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2012/11/eastern_dobsonfly_11-08-12.jpg?itok=n1sp17gr)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Corydalus cornutus
Description
Adult eastern dobsonflies are huge and mothlike, with large wings and a weak, fluttery flight. The fiercely predaceous aquatic larvae, called hellgrammites, are well-known to anglers, who often use them as bait.
About Butterflies and Moths in Missouri
Butterflies, skippers, and moths belong to an insect order called the Lepidoptera — the "scale-winged" insects. These living jewels have tiny, overlapping scales that cover their wings like shingles. The scales, whether muted or colorful, seem dusty if they rub off on your fingers. Many butterflies and moths are associated with particular types of food plants, which their caterpillars must eat in order to survive.