There are some 160,000 unique moth species, and many have colorful characteristics that rival those of their close relative, the butterfly.
Moths range from small, camouflaged species to large specimens bigger than a human hand, with eye-popping displays to ward off predators. While beauty is subjective, we think many moths are just as beautiful, if not more so, than butterflies. What do you think?
Here are 20 of the most beautiful moths from around the world.
Why Moths Matter
Moths are the unsung heroes of pollination. We hope that the more we learn about them, the more motivated we'll all be to protect these beauties and their habitats.
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Comet Moth
With a wingspan of nearly 8 inches, the comet moth (Argema mittrei) is one of the largest moths in the world.
It's a member of the giant silk moths, a family of moths that produce silk while in caterpillar form to construct their cocoons. It has a thick, hairy body, feathery antennae, and distinctiveeyespotsto disarm predators.
Also known as the Madagascan moon moth, it's only found in Madagascar. Due to habitat loss, it's now endangered, though it is still bred in captivity.
2
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Lime Hawk-Moth
The lime hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) is a medium-sized species with a wingspan of about 3 inches. It's found throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
It has a band of green markings across its wings, which helps it hide in its woodland habitat. Males of the species are usually smaller than the females but have more colorful markings.
3
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Twin-Spotted Sphinx Moth
The twin-spotted sphinx moth (Smerinthus jamaicensis) is in most regards a dull-looking species, with one notable exception: while its body and forewings are brown, it has red hindwings with prominent blue and black eyespots.
It can be found across North America, with a range that stretches from Florida to the Yukon. In its larval stage, it feeds primarily on fruit trees like crab apples and cherries.
4
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Oleander Hawk-Moth
The oleander hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii) is a large example of a hawk-moth, with a wingspan of 3 inches. It's best known for its flying ability, and when it hovers over flowers to feed on nectar, it's easily mistaken for a hummingbird.
Also known as the army green moth, it has a complex camouflage pattern that ranges from green to white to purple. It's found in Asia, Africa, and the Hawaiian Islands, where it was introduced to pollinate some endangered flowers.
Io Moth
The io moth (Automeris io) is a colorful species that can be found across much of Canada and the United States. It has large, dramatic eyespots with white speckles that almost appear to reflect light.
While the males are primarily yellow, female moths have red forewings and smaller antennae. In its caterpillar form, it is bright green and covered with venomous spines that release toxins when touched.
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Garden Tiger Moth
The garden tiger moth (Arctia caja) prefers colder climates, and can be found in the upper latitudes across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Its zebralike wing pattern wards off predators, and for good reason—the fluids in its body are toxic to other animals. It also generates a clicking sound that's been proven todisrupt bats' echolocation abilities, which serves as another escape tactic.
7
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Galium Sphinx Moth
The galium sphinx moth (Hyles gallii) is another impressive flier, with strong, striped wings that can span over 3 inches. Its range includes the Northern United States and Canada, and it can even survive as far north as the Arctic Circle.
It's named after theGaliumfamily of plants, which it feeds on as a caterpillar. Sphinx moths, also known as hawk-moths, are unusually active during the daytime, when they feed on the nectar of flowers.
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Rosy Maple Moth
The rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) is one of the smallest of the great silk moths, a family of moths with more than2,300 member species. It's distinguished by its bright coloration, with a stout yellow body, pink legs, and pink- and yellow-striped wings. And obviously, the rosy maple moth gets bonus points for that face!
This fuzzy creature feeds on maple leaves in its caterpillar form; in fact, large groups of caterpillars can easily render a tree bare, though this does not harm the host tree.
Like other great silk moths, it only survives from a few days up to two weeks as an adult and lacks the mouth parts necessary to eat.
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False Tiger Moth
The false tiger moth (Dysphania militaris) is one of the moth species most commonly mistaken for a butterfly, perhaps due to its bright coloration, which is reminiscent of someswallowtail butterflies.
Despite its bright colors, it shares the characteristics that separatemoths from butterflies, including feathery antennae, a thicker abdomen, and larger scales on its wings. It is found in Southeast Asia, and has a wingspan of about 3.5 inches.
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Cecropia Moth
The cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia) is North America's largest moth, with a wingspan that can reach 7 inches. Like other giant silk moths, itcan't eatand survives as an adult moth for only two weeks.
The population is susceptible to pest issues—a parasitoid called the tachinid fly was introduced to combat exoticgypsy moths, but has been so effective that it is affecting native moth populations as well.
11
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Madagascan Sunset Moth
Like the comet moth, the Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus) is a colorful specimen that is endemic to Madagascar. It is not, however, as large as the comet moth, with a wingspan of only 3 inches.
Its hindwings sport a multitude of hues as well as several distinctive tails. Collectors are so enamored by its beautiful appearance that it is now bred in captivity for theinternational butterfly trade.
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Giant Leopard Moth
The giant leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia) is found across North and Central America, from southern Canada to Panama.
It has a distinctive color pattern, with white wings with black spots, some of which are solid and others ringed. When its wings are spread, its colorful abdomen, with shiny blue and orange spots, becomes visible. It's generally hard to spot, thanks to its nocturnal nature.
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Rothschildia Aurota
Rothschildia aurotais another giant silk moth species, and one of the largest to be found in South America, with a wingspan of 6-7 inches. It is one of many similar species on the continent, which might explain the lack of a common name.
Thanks to its wingspan and coloration, it's also a popular species with hobbyist breeders and is known for being easy to raise in captivity.
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Emperor Moth
The emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia) is a large, brown species found across Europe. It's the only member of theSaturniidaefamily—which includes most of the largest, most beautiful moths—that lives in the British Isles.
Its mostly brown appearance is set off by a black and orange eyespot on each of its four wings.
Males will fly during the day and are much more active than females, which prefer to lie low in the vegetation during daylight hours.
15
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White-Lined Sphinx Moth
The white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) is another hawk-moth known for its flying prowess reminiscent of hummingbirds. Its most striking feature is the white lines referenced in its name, which cover both its wings and abdomen.
It's found across most of North and Central America, where it feeds on a wide variety of plants and flowers.
In its caterpillar form, it's known to gather in large groups that can defoliate trees and shrubs.
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Luna Moth
The luna moth (Actias luna) is one of the largest moth species found in North America. While it's not endangered, it can be hard to spot in the wild, due to its weeklong lifespan.
It's distinguished by its white body and large, pale green wings with long tails. As a caterpillar, the luna moth is one of several species that will deter predators byproducing a clicking sound and regurgitating a foul liquid.
17
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Hercules moth
A female Hercules moth (Coscinocera hercules) earned the distinction as the world's largest moth, with the largest recorded wing surface area of any insect and a wingspan of 11 inches. It's native to northern Australia and New Guinea.
These giant specimens haven't evolved by accident—studies show that large wings with long tails can help moths escape from bats by drawing attention away from more vital body parts and disrupting sonar.
18
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Coffee Clearwing
The coffee clearwing (Cephonodes hylas), also known as the coffee bee hawk-moth or pellucid hawk-moth, is widely found across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia.
It's unique for its transparent, black-lined wings, and its multicolored body, which ranges from yellow to brown to green. As a caterpillar, it feeds on gardenia and coffee plants, and features a horn on its rear end, a common characteristic of hawk-moth larvae.
19
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Elephant Hawk-Moth
The elephant hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) is distributed across Europe and Asia, but is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. Unlike most pollinating moths, which feed during the day, it remains nocturnal and has developed excellent night vision. It can evendetect a flower's color with only moonlight as a guide.
It has evolved to have eyespots in both its caterpillar and adult forms. As a caterpillar, it will strike a defensive pose,widening its bodyand emphasizing the spots to deter predators.
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Japanese Silk Moth
The Japanese silk moth (Antheraea yamamai) is known for producing rare and expensive tussar silk, but it's an arresting species due to its appearance as well. It has large, fernlike antennae and tan-colored wings that can grow up to 6 inches wide.
It's native to Japan, but after more than 1,000 years of cultivation for its silk, it has been imported across Asia and Europe, where the species escaped containment and now also lives in the wild.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including moths. I can provide you with information about the concepts mentioned in this article. Here are some key points about moths:
- There are approximately 160,000 unique species of moths worldwide.
- Moths come in a wide range of sizes, from small and camouflaged species to large specimens bigger than a human hand.
- Many moths have colorful characteristics that rival those of butterflies.
- Moths play a crucial role in pollination and are often considered the unsung heroes of this process.
- Understanding and protecting moths and their habitats is important for maintaining biodiversity.
Now, let's dive into the specific moths mentioned in the article:
Comet Moth (Argema mittrei)
- One of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan of nearly 8 inches.
- Belongs to the giant silk moths family.
- Found only in Madagascar.
- Endangered due to habitat loss [[1]].
Lime Hawk-Moth (Mimas tiliae)
- A medium-sized species with a wingspan of about 3 inches.
- Found throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
- Has a band of green markings across its wings.
- Males are usually smaller than females but have more colorful markings [[2]].
Twin-Spotted Sphinx Moth (Smerinthus jamaicensis)
- A dull-looking species with brown body and forewings.
- Notable for its red hindwings with prominent blue and black eyespots.
- Found across North America, ranging from Florida to the Yukon.
- Feeds primarily on fruit trees like crab apples and cherries in its larval stage [[3]].
Oleander Hawk-Moth (Daphnis nerii)
- A large hawk-moth with a wingspan of 3 inches.
- Known for its flying ability, often mistaken for a hummingbird.
- Has a complex camouflage pattern ranging from green to white to purple.
- Found in Asia, Africa, and the Hawaiian Islands [[4]].
Io Moth (Automeris io)
- Colorful species found across much of Canada and the United States.
- Males are primarily yellow, while females have red forewings and smaller antennae.
- Caterpillar form is bright green and covered with venomous spines.
- Release toxins when touched [[5]].
Garden Tiger Moth (Arctia caja)
- Prefers colder climates and can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Zebralike wing pattern wards off predators.
- Fluids in its body are toxic to other animals.
- Generates a clicking sound that disrupts bats' echolocation abilities [[6]].
Galium Sphinx Moth (Hyles gallii)
- Impressive flier with strong, striped wings spanning over 3 inches.
- Range includes the Northern United States and Canada.
- Active during the daytime, feeding on flower nectar.
- Named after the Galium family of plants it feeds on as a caterpillar [[7]].
Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)
- One of the smallest great silk moths.
- Distinguished by its bright coloration, with a stout yellow body, pink legs, and pink- and yellow-striped wings.
- Feeds on maple leaves in its caterpillar form.
- Large groups of caterpillars can easily defoliate trees, but this does not harm the host tree [[8]].
False Tiger Moth (Dysphania militaris)
- Brightly colored moth often mistaken for a butterfly.
- Shares characteristics that separate moths from butterflies, such as feathery antennae and larger scales on its wings.
- Found in Southeast Asia with a wingspan of about 3.5 inches [[9]].
Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)
- North America's largest moth with a wingspan reaching 7 inches.
- Cannot eat and survives as an adult moth for only two weeks.
- Population susceptible to pest issues, affecting native moth populations [[10]].
Madagascan Sunset Moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus)
- Colorful specimen endemic to Madagascar.
- Wingspan of only 3 inches.
- Hindwings sport a multitude of hues and distinctive tails.
- Bred in captivity for the international butterfly trade [[11]].
Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)
- Found across North and Central America.
- Distinctive color pattern with white wings and black spots.
- Colorful abdomen with shiny blue and orange spots visible when wings are spread.
- Nocturnal in nature [[12]].
Rothschildia Aurota
- One of the largest silk moth species found in South America.
- Wingspan of 6-7 inches.
- Popular species with hobbyist breeders due to ease of raising in captivity [[13]].
Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)
- Large, brown species found across Europe.
- Only member of the Saturniidae family in the British Isles.
- Black and orange eyespot on each of its four wings.
- Males more active during the day, while females prefer to stay low in vegetation [[14]].
White-Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)
- Known for its flying prowess reminiscent of hummingbirds.
- White lines cover both wings and abdomen.
- Found across most of North and Central America.
- Feeds on a wide variety of plants and flowers [[15]].
Luna Moth (Actias luna)
- One of the largest moth species in North America.
- Distinguished by its white body and large, pale green wings with long tails.
- Produces a clicking sound and regurgitates a foul liquid as a defense mechanism [[16]].
Hercules Moth (Coscinocera hercules)
- World's largest moth with a wingspan of 11 inches.
- Native to northern Australia and New Guinea.
- Large wings with long tails help moths escape from bats [[17]].
Coffee Clearwing (Cephonodes hylas)
- Widely found across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia.
- Unique for its transparent, black-lined wings and multicolored body.
- Feeds on gardenia and coffee plants as a caterpillar [[18]].
Elephant Hawk-Moth (Deilephila elpenor)
- Distributed across Europe and Asia, commonly found in the United Kingdom.
- Nocturnal with excellent night vision.
- Eyespots in both caterpillar and adult forms.
- Defensive pose with widened body and emphasized spots to deter predators [[19]].
Japanese Silk Moth (Antheraea yamamai)
- Known for producing rare and expensive tussar silk.
- Large, fernlike antennae and tan-colored wings.
- Native to Japan but now found in Asia and Europe [[20]].
These are just some of the beautiful moth species mentioned in the article. Moths are incredibly diverse and fascinating creatures, and their beauty is indeed subjective. I hope this information helps you appreciate the incredible variety of moths found around the world!