Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus)
Starvaton Creek Rest Stop, Hood River, Oregon. 6/8/23
Species in this group are related to the domesticated Silk Moth. They are also known as Emperor moths. Note the eye spots on the wings.
Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus)
Starvaton Creek Rest Stop, Hood River, Oregon. 6/8/23
Species in this large group tend to display bright reds and yellows.
Ranchman's Tiger Moth (Platyprepia virginalis) Female
Klickitat County, Washington. 6/2/20 Photo by Stefan Schick
Ranchman's Tiger Moth (Platyprepia virginalis) Male
Near Fields, Harney County, Oregon. 7/14/19 Male
Bluebell Tiger Moth (Gnophaela sp.)
Bluebell Tiger Moth (Gnophaela sp.)
Caterpillar and cocoon of Gnophaela vermiculata. Photo by Bill Yake.
Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctica isabella)
aka Wooly Bear catepillar or Banded Wooly Bear
Members of this large family have larvae called "inch-worms" (due to their walking patterns) and feed on trees and shrubs. They are also distingusihed by a characteristic outstretched stance.
(Macaria adonis)
Crescent Creek, OR, Oregon. June 27, 2022
Red-winged Wave Moth (Dasyfidonia avuncularia)
Rt 2 (west side), Modoc County, CA. June 26, 2022
(Scopula luteolata / sentinaria)
Keene Creek, Cascade-Siskioyou NM, OR. June 22, 2022
Spearmarked Black Moth (Rhemaptera hastata)
Takhlakh Lake, Yakima County, Washington. 7/20/22 by Dennis Paulson/Neta Smith
Feeds on birch (also alder, willow, and rose) and is considered a pest of paper birch in Alaska.
(Dysstroma citrata)
Lookout Mountain Road, Hood River County, Oregon. 8/8/22
Simple Wave Moth (Scopula citrata)
Conboy NWR, Klickitat County, Washington. 6/7/23
This large family includes cutworms and fruitworms. Adults are often green and mottled.
Ridings' Forester (Alypia ridingsi)
Mt. Hood, Oregon
Ridings' Forester (Alypia ridingsi)
Mt. Hood, Oregon
MacCullough's Forester (Androloma maccullochii)
Crescent Creek, Oregon. June 27, 2022
MacCullough's Forester (Androloma maccullochii)
Frissell Ridge, Linn County, Oregon. July 16, 2022
(Schinia vacciniae) Photo by Stefan Schlick.
Lookout Mountain Trail, Hood River County, Oregon. 7/15/20
(Schinia vacciniae)
Lookout Mountain Trail, Hood River County, Oregon. 8/8/22
Black-spotted Gem (Schinia honesta)
Frissell Ridge, Lane County, Oregon. 7/16/22
White-spotted Midget (Eutricopis nexilus)
Simcoe Butte, Klickatat County, Washington. 7/11/22
Black-spotted Gem (Schinia honesta)?
Frissell Ridge, Lane County, Oregon. 7/16/22
Black-spotted Gem (Schinia honesta)
Frissell Ridge, Lane County, Oregon. 7/16/22
Unknown Owlet Moth
Lower Deschutes, County, Oregon. 5/21/23
This family was formerly part of Noctuidae.
Red Shouldered Ctenucha (Ctenucha rubroscapus)
Mt. Adams, Washington
Red Shouldered Ctenucha (Ctenucha rubroscapus)
Cook Park, Washington Co., Oregon
(Euclidia ardita)
Eight Dollar Mountain, Jackson County, Oregon. 6/23/23
(Drasteria parallela)
Parsnip Lake area, Jackson County, Oregon. 6/24/23
Drasteria parellela
Frissell Ridge, Linn County, Oregon. 7/17/22
Cinnabar Moth caterpillars (Tyria jacobeae)
Cape Meares, Tillamook County, Oregon
This family contains the largest species of moth. The dayflying Sheep Moth feeds on Ceanothus and Rose. While it usually has an infusion of black and branched antennas, it sometimes lacks any black and folds the antenna branches.
Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina)
Conboy Lake, County, Washington. July 20, 2020
Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina)
Conboy Lake, County, Washington. July 20, 2020
Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina)
Hobart Bluff, Josephine County, Oregon. June 21, 2021
Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina)
Hobart Bluff, Josephine County, Oregon. June 21, 2021
Polyphemus Silkmoth (Antheraea polyphemus)
These moths have streamlined wings and robust bodies and are usually large. Due to convergent evolution, they are often mistaken for hummingbirds as they sip nectar.
Photo by Barbara Peck.
Clark's Sphinx Moth (Proserpius clarkiae)
Jenny Road, Cascade-Siskiyou NM, Oregon. 7/4/19
Clark's Sphinx Moth (Proserpius clarkiae)
Rd 2, Warner Mtns., Modoc County, California. 6/26/20
Clark's Sphinx Moth (Proserpius clarkiae)
Rd 2, Warner Mtns., Modoc County, California. 6/26/20
White-lined Sphynx Moth (Hyles lineata)
Sphynx Moth caterpillar (Smerinthus sp.)
Death Valley, California.
These diurnal moths are known for their Batesian mimicry of Hymenopterans.
Peachtree Borer (Synanthedon exitiosa) male
Cook Park, Washington County, Oregon. 9/26/21
Rocky Mountain Clearwing Moth (Humaris theits)
Jenny Road, Cascade-Siskiyou NM, Oregon. 6/19/19
Rocky Mountain Clearwing Moth (Humaris theits)
Swale Canyon Trailhead, Klickitat County, WA. 6/2/20
Rocky Mountain Clearwing Moth (Humaris theits)
Swale Canyon Trailhead, Klickitat County, WA. 6/2/20
The caterpillars of these species typically weave "tents" in tree branches while consuming the leaves.
Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria)
Caterpillar feeding on bitterbrush. Alder Springs, near Sisters, OR.
This is the most common of four tent building species found in the West.
Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria)
Caterpillar in the tent. Note the pattern of medial spots to distinguish from other tent builders.
Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria)
Tent with live caterpillar and molted skins.
Simcoe Butte, Klickatat County, Washington. 7/11/22
Frissell Ridge, Linn County, Oregon. 7/17/22
Possibly a Noctuidae
Frissell Ridge, Lane County, Oregon. 7/17/22
Possibly a Geometrid
Wicky Creek, NF8040, Mount Adams, Yakima County, Washington. 7/19/22