LEPIDOPTERA LIBRARY - Biodiversity Conservancy International

Lepidoptera is an order of winged insects that includes moths and butterflies.

This LEPIDOPTERA LIBRARY contains all the moths and butterflies that have been observed and verified in and around the Pinhey Sand Dunes. When visiting the dunes keep a lookout for these winged wonders.

American Dagger

Acronicta americana

Moth
Flight season is April – September
50 – 65 mm wingspan
Found in deciduous woodlands and forests in Northern America east of the Rocky Mountains
The caterpillar’s hairs can cause skin irritation

Aphrodite Fritillary

Speyeria aphrodite

Butterfly
Flight season is June – August
51 – 73 mm wingspan
Found in a wide range of habitats in northern North America including wet meadows, wooded areas, and prairie meadows

Armyworm Moth

Mythimna unipuncta

Moth
Wingspan of ~ 40 mm
Found in North America east of the Rocky Mountains
Named because the caterpillar will eat until nothing is left then “march” to a new food source

Banded Tussock Moth

Halysidota tessellaris

Moth
Flight season is May – August
40 -45 mm wingspan
It is common to abundant across North America
The larva can have a wide range of colors from white to deep orange

Black Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes

Butterfly
Flight season is May – August
52 – 94 mm wingspan
Found in the northern US and southeastern Canada usually near damp meadows
females are typically larger than males

Brown-hooded Owlet

Cucullia convexipennis

Moth
Flight season is June – September
40 – 50 mm wingspan
Found in southern Canada and northern US east of the Rocky Mountains
Caterpillars are sometimes called Calico Paint

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail	Papilio canadensis	Butterfly Flight season is May – June 53 – 90 mm wingspan Extensive range across Canada even found north of the Arctic Circle Hundreds will gather at a single puddle
Common Ringlet	Coenonympha california	Butterfly Flight season is May – July 27 – 39 mm wingspan Found across North America and northern Eurasia in a variety of grassy habitats Also known as the California ringlet
Common Spring Moth	Heliomata cycladata	Moth Flight season is March – July 20 mm wingspan Found in the northeastern US and southeastern Canada
Compton Tortoiseshell	Nymphalis I-album	Butterfly Flight season is July – June the next year 52 – 70 mm wingspan Found across North America in woodland habitat Named the town of Compton, Quebec
Copper Underwing	Amphipyra pyramidoides	Moth Flight season is July – October 38 – 52 mm wingspan Found across the US and in southern Canada Larva are sometimes called Humped Green Fruitworm
Cottonwood Dagger	Acronicta lepusculina	Moth Flight season is April – September 40 – 50 mm wingspan Found all across the US and southern Canada in treed floodplains and forested riverbanks Its cocoon is composed of silk and bits of wood

Definite Tussock Moth

Orgyia definita

Moth
30 mm wingspan
Found in southeastern Canada and northeastern US
Hairs on the caterpillar in this genus can cause skin irritation

Dreamy Duskywing

Erynnis icelus

Butterfly
Flight season is May – June
23 – 30 mm wingspan
Found across Canada and prefers sandy or muddy areas
Named for their “closed eyes” which refers to the lack of white dots on the dorsal wing

Dun Skipper

Euphyes vestris

Butterfly
Flight season is June – August
23 -27 mm wingspan
Mainly found in central and eastern Canada in grassy areas and meadows
Also known as a Sedge Witch

Eastern Comma	Polygonia comma	Butterfly Flight season is April-October 37 – 56 mm wingspan Widespread in eastern North America preferring moist wetlands They have a summer and winter form
Eastern Pine Elfin	Callophrys niphon	Butterfly Flight season is May – June 22 – 27 mm wingspan Found mainly in eastern North America in sandy areas with pine trees This species can be extremely variable in looks
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth	Malacosoma americana	Moth Flight season is June – July 22 – 24 mm wingspan Found from Nova Scotia to Alberta in Canada and in the central and eastern US They form communal nests in the branches of trees
Eight-spotted Forester Moth	Alypia octomaculata	Moth Flight season is March – July 30 – 37 mm wingspan Found in the eastern US and southeastern Canada in open areas with flowering plants near woodlands Can enter a dormant state while pupae for up to 4 years if the environmental conditions aren’t favorable
European Skipper	Thymelicus lineola	Butterfly Flight season is June – August 19 – 26 mm wingspan Found across temperate Eurasia, and northwest Africa and was introduced to North America where it lives in grassy areas Believed to have been introduced to North America through overwintering eggs in grass seed brought into London, Ontario

Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth	Malacosma disstria	Moth Flight season is April – August 25 – 45 mm wingspan Widely distributed in Canada but mainly in the south in forests that contain alder, basswood, birch, cherry, oak, poplar, or willow trees They weave silky sheets where they lie during molting
Four-barred Gray	Aethalura intertexta	Moth 25 mm wingspan Widespread in eastern North America and parts of the pacific northwest Also known as the smoky carpet moth

Gray Spring Moth	Lomographa glomeraria	Moth Flight season is March – June 25 mm wingspan Found in the eastern US and southeastern Canada in shrubby fields and woodlands They feed on stone fruit trees
Gray Spring Zale Moth	Zale submediana	Moth 39 mm wingspan Found in the eastern US and southeastern Canada in upland and wetland woodlands containing pine
Green Cloverworm Moth	Hypena scabra	Moth They are active year-round on warm days 25 – 35 mm wingspan Found in eastern North America in fields, gardens, and wooded edges There are multiple generations in a year

Henry’s Elfin	Callophrys henrici	Butterfly Flight season is May – June 20 – 25 mm wingspan Widespread in much of North America, often found in open deciduous woodlands Larva can vary widely in color from yellow to maroon
Hologram Moth	Diachrysia balluca	Moth Flight season is June – September 20 -25 mm wingspan Found in eastern Canada and northeastern US Its iridescence may serve as an optical illusion to evade predators

Isabella Tiger Moth

Pyrharctia isabella

Moth
Flight season is March – November
45 – 65 mm wingspan
Commonly found throughout North America
Caterpillars are commonly called Wooly Bears

Large Yellow Underwing

Noctua pronuba

Moth
30 – 60 mm wingspan
Found in most of North America but is native to Eurasia

Laurel Sphinx

Sphinx kalmiae

Moth
Flight season is May – August
75 – 103 mm wingspan
Found in the temperate areas of the US and southern Canada
In Louisiana it is known to have as many as 6 generations

Little Wood Satyr

Megisto cymela

Butterfly
Flight season is June – July
29 – 42 mm wingspan
Found in the eastern and central US and southern Canada in woody and shrubby areas

Many-spotted Scoparia Moth	Scoparia basalis	Moth Flight season is April – November 13 mm wingspan Widespread throughout eastern North America
Maple Loop Moth	Parallelia bisteris	Moth Flight season is March – September 33 – 43 mm wingspan Found in eastern North America in deciduous forest Caterpillars feed on birch, maple, and walnut trees
Mcdunnough’s Eudonia	Eudonia heterosalis	Moth Flight season is February – November 13 mm wingspan Found in eastern North America but only in southern Canada
Milkweed Tussock Moth	Euchaetes Egle	Moth Flight season is May – September 32 – 43 mm wingspan Found in eastern North America but only in southern Canada in fields and edges with milkweed They acquire chemical defense from their host plants
Monarch	Danaus plexippus	Butterfly Flight season is May – November 93 – 105 mm wingspan Has a vast North American range Requires milkweed to survive
Morbid Owlet	Chyrolita morbidalis	Moth Flight season is June – August 29 – 35 mm wingspan Found in North America in deciduous woods and edges The name “morbid” comes from its “sickly” pale color
Mourning Cloak	Nymphalis antiopa	Butterfly Flight season is April – October 45 – 70 mm wingspan Found throughout Canada in almost any habitat

Nameless Pinion	Lithophane innominata	Moth Flight season is April – October 35 – 39 mm wingspan Found across North America Considered a vulnerable species in Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Northern Azure	Celastrina lucia	Butterfly Flight season is April – July 22 – 35 mm wingspan Found in eastern North America Caterpillar color depends on their food source
Northern Cloudywing	Thorybes pylades	Butterfly Flight season is May – July 28 – 38 mm wingspan Found across the US and Canada in partially wooded areas with flowering plants

Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth

Ponometia candefacta

Moth
Flight season is April – September
18 – 22 mm wingspan
Found across North America and southern Canada in dry weedy and disturbed areas
Species was introduced to Russia as a biological control agent for common ragweed

Packard’s Concealer Moth	Semioscopis packardella	Moth Flight season is March – October 10 – 14 mm wingspan Found in southern Canada and northern US woodlands, shrubby areas Peak time is April – May
Painted Lady	Vanessa cardui	Butterfly Flight season is May – October 42 – 66 mm wingspan Found on all continents except Antarctica and South America across very different habitats; deserts to heavily wooded areas
Pale Beauty	Campaea perlata	Moth Flight season is June – September 28 – 51 mm wingspan Found across North America in woodlands and shrubby areas Female adults are much larger than males
Pine False Looper Moth	Zale duplicata	Moth 34 – 36 mm wingspan Found from New Brunswick to North Carolina in eastern white pine woodlands
Poison Ivy Leaf-miner Moth	Cameraria guttifinitella	Moth 7 mm wingspan Widespread across North America Caterpillars feed on poison ivy
Polyphemus Moth	Antheraea polyphemus	Moth Flight season is April – November 100 -150 mm wingspan Found across North America in deciduous forests Hindwings are believed to resemble the head of the Great Horned Owl to deter predators
Primrose Moth	Schinia florida	Moth Flight season is June – September 27 – 36 mm wingspan Found in temperate North America in fields and clearings Caterpillars eat the flower buds of evening primroses
Promethea Silkmoth	Callosamia promethea	Moth Flight season is March – August 75 – 95 mm wingspan Found from the east coast to the great plains in North America and southern Canada in deciduous forests They visually mimic the toxic Pipe Vine Swallowtail to protect from predators

Red-banded Leafroller Moth	Argryotaenia veluntinana	Moth 13 – 20 mm wingspan Found in eastern US and southeastern Canada
Red-headed Inchworm Moth	Macaria bisignata	Moth Flight season is May – August 25 mm wingspan Found across the US and southern Canada Caterpillars almost exclusively feed on pine
Red-spotted Admiral	Limenutus artemis	Butterfly Flight season is June – September 47 – 78 mm wingspan Found commonly throughout all provinces in clearing in wooded areas
Reticulated Fruitworm Moth	Cenopis reticulatana	Moth Flight season is June – August 15 – 17 mm wingspan Found in eastern North America They roll leaves together to build feeding sites and shelters

Salt Marsh Moth	Estigmene acres	Moth Flight season is May – August 45 – 68 mm wingspan Found in North America and southwards in open woodlands, meadows, farm fields, grasslands and marshes When disturbed adults drop to the ground inflate their lower wings raise their forewings and emit an acrid odor
Silver-spotted Skipper	Epargyreus clarus	Butterfly 43 – 50 mm wingspan Found in North America in gardens, alongside roads, and in open areas
Smith’s Dart	Xestia smithii	Moth Flight season is June – October 35 – 40 mm wingspan Found in northern North America
Spongy Moth	Lymatria dispar	Moth 38 mm wingspan Native to Eurasia but has been introduced to Africa, North America, and South America Also known as the Gypsy moth
Sweetheart Underwing	Catocala amatrix	Moth Flight season is August – October 75 – 95 mm wingspan Found in eastern North America near poplar and black willow trees They pupate on the ground

Unicorn Prominent

Coelodasys unicornis

Moth
Flight season is February – September
24 – 35 mm wingspan
Found in North America south of the Arctic Circle in deciduous woodland and shrubby areas
Caterpillar can eject a stream of formic acid up to 7 inches

Virginia Ctenucha Moth

Ctenucha virginica

Moth
Flight season is May – July
40 – 50 mm wingspan
Found across eastern North America
Over the last 60 years its range has expanded westward to include all provinces

Watermilfoil Leafcutter Moth	Parapoynx allionealis	Moth 16 mm wingspan Found across North America Caterpillars live in portable cases made from plant material
White Striped Black	Trichodezia albovittata	Moth Flight season is April – September 20 – 25 mm wingspan Found across North America in damp deciduous woodlands Caterpillars feed on touch-me-not a type of jewelweed