Maryland is home to some of the largest and most colorful moths in North America, alongside a handful of small, drab species that sneak into pantries and closets. Anyone researching the types of moths in Maryland quickly discovers a state that hosts everything from six-inch giant silk moths to tiny fabric pests barely a third of an inch long. This guide covers 30 species you are likely to encounter, from the woods of Western Maryland to Baltimore rowhouse kitchens.
Each entry below includes identifying features, habitat notes, and behavior that separates it from lookalike species. Whether a moth showed up at a porch light or chewed a hole in a sweater, the details here should help narrow down an identification. For a broader look at moth diversity outside Maryland, the different types of moths found across North America and the answer to how many types of moths there are worldwide both offer useful context.
1. Cecropia Moth
The cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia) is the largest native moth in North America, and Maryland sits well within its range. Hyalophora cecropia, the cecropia moth, is North America’s largest native moth, with a wingspan of about 5 to 7 inches (130 to 180 mm).
Its wings show a distinctive pattern: brownish wings with red near the base of the forewing, and crescent-shaped spots of red with whitish centers on all wings. The caterpillars are just as notable. Cecropia moth larvae are most commonly found on maple trees, but they have also been found on cherry and birch trees, among many others. Gardeners curious about the caterpillar stage can compare notes with the broader list of caterpillars found in Maryland.
2. Promethea Silkmoth
The promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea) is a close relative of the cecropia moth and shows striking differences between males and females. Its preferred host plant is tulip poplar, though caterpillars have been found on other woody plant species as well.
Mating behavior in this species is unusual. Females release pheromones during a specific window entomologists call the “calling time,” and for this species this time is late afternoon and into the early evening. Males respond dramatically to that signal: one C. promethea male has been found to be able to detect and find a female from 23 miles away. Entomologist Michael Raupp, writing for the University of Maryland’s Bug of the Week, notes that adults can often be seen in the morning resting on buildings or vegetation near sources of nighttime illumination.
3. Giant Leopard Moth (Spotted Leopard Moth)
The giant leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia), also called the spotted leopard moth, is one of the most recognizable tiger moths in the state. One Maryland-focused moth resource confirms this species is a regular resident, noting that the spotted leopard moth is among the moths Maryland “has it all” for.
Adults have bright white wings covered in black rings and solid spots, while the underside of the abdomen flashes iridescent blue-black. The caterpillar stage is a fuzzy black “woolly bear” look-alike that curls into a tight ball when disturbed, revealing red bands between its body segments as a startle display.
4. Luna Moth
Few moths get more attention than the luna moth (Actias luna), a pale green giant with long, trailing hindwing tails. One Maryland moth guide describes it as the pretty luna moth distinguished by its green body and flowing tail, once a common visitor statewide.
Unfortunately, luna moth numbers have slipped in parts of the region. Its numbers saw a decline after a parasitic fly was introduced to combat the gypsy moth, an unintended consequence of a decades-old biocontrol program. Luna moths also show up well south of Maryland; the moths found in Florida include the same species living under warmer conditions.
Pro Tip: Luna moths and other giant silk moths are drawn to porch lights and can be disoriented by bright landscape lighting. Switching to warm-toned or motion-activated outdoor lights during peak flight season (late spring through midsummer) reduces the chance of exhausting these short-lived adults before they can mate.
5. Indian Meal Moth
The Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) is one of the few moths on this list that homeowners actively want to get rid of. Local pest control specialists identify it as a persistent problem: the Indian meal moth is another common moth pest in Maryland, and the larvae of this moth species feed entirely on pantry items, such as flour and beans.
Beyond the annoyance of contaminated food, this species can cause health issues. Food contamination with moth feces, as well as the silk that the larvae produce to form a cocoon, have been known to cause dermatitis and allergic reactions. Adults are small, roughly half an inch long, with bronze-and-tan banded forewings that make them easy to spot fluttering near cabinets.
6. Common Clothes Moth
The common clothes moth, also known as the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), targets wool, silk, and other animal-based fibers rather than plant material. Pest control professionals in the region group it with its close relative in reporting on infestations: moth pests in Maryland include the webber and casemaking (clothes) moth, alongside the Indian meal moth and gypsy moth.
Adult clothes moths rarely fly toward light and are often overlooked until damage appears. Signs of an active infestation typically include:
- Small, irregular holes in sweaters, coats, or wool rugs
- Silky tunnels or patches on fabric surfaces
- Tiny cream-colored larvae in dark, undisturbed closet corners
- Adult moths scurrying rather than flying when a closet door opens
Making sure all clothing that is stored during the summer is properly washed helps, since sweat and food residue attract egg-laying females.
7. Pug Moth
Pug moths belong to the genus Eupithecia, a group so large that identification often stops at the genus level. Regional moth databases list them simply as Pug Moth – Eupithecia spp., reflecting how many nearly identical species share the name.
These small geometrid moths hold their wings flat against surfaces at rest, giving them a triangular, almost moth-flake silhouette. Most Maryland pug species are gray or brown with faint banding, and they are most active from spring through fall. Similar small geometrids turn up on lists of moths found in Texas, since many pug species range across much of the eastern and central United States.
8. White-lined Sphinx Moth
The white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) is a fast, day-flying moth frequently mistaken for a hummingbird as it hovers at flowers. Its forewings show a bold white stripe running diagonally through a tan-and-brown pattern, and the hindwings flash pink and black in flight.
This species is remarkably widespread, favoring gardens, meadows, and disturbed fields where its caterpillars feed on a wide range of low-growing plants, including evening primrose and grape. Because of that adaptability, it shows up on moth lists far beyond Maryland, including the insects documented across Texas.
9. Polyphemus Moth
The polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is instantly recognizable by the large, transparent eyespots on its hindwings, an adaptation that startles predators when the wings snap open. It belongs to the same giant silkworm family as several other Maryland species, described in one entomology profile simply as a sympatric large saturniid alongside the cecropia moth.
Like other members of Saturniidae, adult polyphemus moths do not feed at all as adults, living only long enough to mate. The table below compares the wingspan and habits of the giant silk moths covered in this guide.
| Moth | Typical Wingspan | Adult Flight Season | Common Host Plants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cecropia Moth | 5-7 inches | Late spring to early summer | Maple, cherry, birch |
| Luna Moth | 3-4.5 inches | Spring through midsummer | Hickory, walnut, sweetgum |
| Polyphemus Moth | 4-6 inches | Late spring to summer | Oak, birch, willow |
| Promethea Silkmoth | 3-4 inches | Late spring to midsummer | Tulip poplar, sassafras |
| Imperial Moth | 3-6 inches | Summer | Pine, oak, maple |
Moths in this family also range well into New York and New England, which is worth a look via the insect species found in New York.
10. Fall Webworm Moth
The fall webworm moth (Hyphantria cunea) is easy to overlook as an adult, a plain white moth with a few dark speckles, but its caterpillars are hard to miss. Larvae spin large, loose silk webs over the ends of tree branches, most conspicuously on black walnut, cherry, and birch trees in late summer and early fall.
Despite the dramatic webbing, fall webworms rarely cause lasting harm to healthy, established trees since they feed late in the season after most trees have already stored their energy for the year. Homeowners who see extensive webbing on stressed or young trees may want to check resources on insects that feed on wood for a broader view of what else might be affecting the tree.
11. Southern Flannel Moth
The southern flannel moth (Megalopyge opercularis) produces one of the most misleadingly cute caterpillars in the eastern United States: the puss caterpillar, covered in soft-looking tan or gray hair. Adult moths are similarly fuzzy, with a compact, teddy-bear appearance and a wingspan of just over an inch.
Important Note: The puss caterpillar’s fur hides venomous spines that can cause intense pain, swelling, and sometimes a rash resembling a grid pattern. Anyone who spots one should avoid handling it directly and should seek medical attention if stung and symptoms worsen.
In Maryland, this species reaches the northern edge of its regular range, so sightings tend to cluster in the warmer, southern parts of the state.
12. Bristly Cutworm Moth
The bristly cutworm moth (Lacinipolia renigera) belongs to Noctuidae, the owlet moth family, which contains more species than any other moth family in North America. Adults are unremarkable in color, mottled brown and gray, built for blending into leaf litter and bark rather than standing out.
Its caterpillars, like many cutworms, feed at night and hide in soil or plant debris during the day, occasionally damaging garden vegetables and grasses. Gardeners dealing with unexplained seedling damage might also want to check the ground-dwelling beetles found in Maryland, since several species share similar nocturnal, soil-based habits.
13. Cherry Scallop Shell Moth
The cherry scallop shell moth (Rheumaptera prunivorata) is a geometrid species that appears on regional moth checklists, including listings that place it among the confirmed Cherry Scallop Shell Moth species documented in Maryland. Its wings show a wavy, scalloped pattern in cream and brown that gives the species its name.
As the name suggests, caterpillars feed almost exclusively on wild and cultivated cherry trees, tying the species closely to orchard and hedgerow habitats. Adults are most often seen in late spring and again in a partial second generation later in the summer.
14. Isabella Tiger Moth
The Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) is better known by its caterpillar stage, the banded woolly bear, famous in folklore for predicting winter severity based on the width of its orange band. According to a Maryland-focused moth resource, Isabella tiger moths are large moths that are easy to identify, found in different habitats that include grasslands and meadows, agricultural fields, and wetlands.
Adults are a soft yellow-orange with a stout, fuzzy body and faint rows of black dots. Adults usually fly in the late summer and early fall, though the species also produces an earlier spring generation from overwintering caterpillars. This cold tolerance lets the woolly bear survive freezing winters as far north as the insect species recorded across Canada.
15. Clymene Moth
The Clymene moth (Haploa clymene), sometimes nicknamed the “bunny moth” for the rabbit-like silhouette its folded wings create, is a striking black-and-white tiger moth. One Maryland moth guide describes it precisely: quite large and with a wingspan of 40 to 55 mm, white with a black border on their wings, with a black cross pattern at the center of their backs and a small yellow head with black eyes.
True to that description, this species is most often seen resting in the open during the day rather than hiding, since its bold pattern already deters most predators. It is often seen during hot summer days, typically in fields, woodland edges, and gardens.
16. Banded Tussock Moth
The banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris) is a pale, tan-to-cream moth with subtle darker banding across the forewings, easy to mistake for a dead leaf at rest. Its caterpillars are far more eye-catching: dense, pale yellow tufts of hair with longer black “pencil” tufts at both ends of the body.
Larvae feed on a wide variety of deciduous trees, including birch, oak, and hickory, and rarely cause noticeable defoliation even in years when populations spike. For a broader sense of how tussock moths and other fuzzy caterpillar species fit into the wider insect world, the general overview of different types of insects offers useful background.
17. Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
The hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) is a daytime pollinator so convincing in its mimicry that most people assume they are watching a hummingbird or a large bumblebee. Its wings are largely transparent with reddish-brown borders, and its stout, fuzzy body tapers to a fanned tail resembling a tiny bird’s.
This species hovers at tubular flowers like bee balm and honeysuckle, beating its wings so fast that the humming sound carries several feet away. Anyone trying to sort out garden visitors that resemble stinging insects may find the guide to insects that look like bees helpful, since clearwing moths are among the most convincing bee mimics in North America.
18. Orange-tipped Oakworm Moth
The orange-tipped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria) is a confirmed Maryland species, appearing on regional checklists alongside its oakworm relatives as Anisota senatoria Orange-tipped oakworm moth. Males and females look quite different: males are smaller and more heavily marked with brown, while females are larger with a plainer tan-orange color.
Caterpillars feed in groups on oak leaves and can occasionally defoliate individual branches during outbreak years, though widespread tree damage is uncommon. Populations of this species and its relatives also range into the Midwest, overlapping with lists of insects documented in Ohio.
19. Spiny Oakworm Moth
The spiny oakworm moth (Anisota stigma) shares the same general oakworm body plan as its orange-tipped relative but carries a more reddish-brown coloring with a translucent spot on each forewing. It is listed among Maryland’s regional species as Anisota stigma Spiny oakworm moth on regional lepidoptera checklists.
The caterpillar stage lives up to the “spiny” name, covered in short branching spines that, while not seriously venomous, can irritate skin on contact. Larvae feed primarily on oak but will also accept hickory and other hardwood leaves when preferred food is scarce.
20. Pink-striped Oakworm Moth
The pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis) rounds out the trio of oakworm species found in Maryland, confirmed on regional checklists as Anisota virginiensis Pink-striped oakworm moth. Adults show a soft yellow-tan color with a pink tint along the wing veins, giving the species its common name.
This species tends to appear slightly earlier in the season than its relatives and favors oak woodlands and edges more strongly than mixed hardwood stands. Like other oakworms, caterpillars gather in loose groups when young before dispersing as they grow larger.
21. Io Moth
The Io moth (Automeris io) is one of the most dramatically marked moths in Maryland, with males in bright yellow and females in reddish-brown, both flashing a huge blue-and-black eyespot on each hindwing when disturbed. It is confirmed as a regional species, listed as Automeris io Io moth among the Saturniidae found statewide.
The caterpillar stage carries genuinely venomous spines arranged in dense clusters along its bright green body, capable of delivering a painful sting similar to a nettle rash. This species belongs to the same broad silkworm family as the buck moth and imperial moth, a group entomologists note also includes the io moth, Automeris io (Frabricius), among other regionally common giants.
22. Tulip-tree Silkmoth
The tulip-tree silkmoth (Callosamia angulifera) is a close relative of the promethea silkmoth and is easily confused with it, though the tulip-tree silkmoth tends to be larger with more angular wing margins. Regional checklists confirm it as a Maryland resident, listed as Callosamia angulifera Tuliptree silkmoth.
As the name suggests, caterpillars feed almost exclusively on tulip poplar, the same tree favored by the state’s promethea silkmoth population. Because both species rely so heavily on this single host tree, healthy stands of mature tulip poplar are essential for sustaining local populations of either moth.
23. Regal Moth
The regal moth (Citheronia regalis), also called the royal walnut moth, produces one of the most famous caterpillars in North America: the hickory horned devil, a bright green larva covered in curved orange-and-black spines that can grow longer than a human finger. Entomologists writing about the species note that the Regal/Royal Walnut moth caterpillar even has its own name, the Hickory Horned Devil.
Despite its intimidating appearance, the caterpillar is harmless to touch, relying entirely on bluffing to deter predators. Adult regal moths are large and colorful, with orange-and-gray forewings and yellow-spotted hindwings, and they favor hickory, walnut, and sweetgum as caterpillar host plants.
24. Pine Devil Moth
The pine devil moth (Citheronia sepulcralis) is a close relative of the regal moth and shares its place in the royal moth subfamily. It appears on Maryland’s confirmed Saturniidae checklist as Pine Devil MothCitheronia sepulcralis, one of the state’s less commonly reported giant silk moths.
As its name implies, caterpillars feed on pine needles rather than the broadleaf trees favored by most of its royal moth relatives, tying the species closely to pine barrens and mixed pine woodland habitats. Adults share the same gray-and-orange coloring seen in the regal moth but are noticeably smaller overall.
25. Rosy Maple Moth
The rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) is arguably the most photographed moth in Maryland thanks to its unmistakable pink-and-yellow coloring. One moth identification resource sums it up well: the Rosy maple moth looks dipped in pink and yellow cotton candy.
This species is confirmed as a regular Maryland resident on the state’s Saturniidae checklist, listed as Rosy Maple MothDryocampa rubicunda. Caterpillars, sometimes called green-striped mapleworms, feed in groups on maple and oak leaves and occasionally strip individual branches bare during heavier population years.
26. Imperial Moth
The imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) is one of the largest moths in Maryland, with a wingspan that can approach six inches in females. Entomologists describe the species and its family this way: Imperial moths are members of the Giant Silkworm/Royal Moth family Saturniidae, a group of often-large and often-spectacular moths with wingspreads up to six inches.
Adults show heavy yellow wings blotched with purplish-brown, a pattern that varies considerably between individuals. The species carries a couple of older regional nicknames, sometimes called the Great Plane Tree moth and the Yellow Emperor, and it belongs to the royal moth subfamily Ceratocampinae alongside the regal and pine devil moths.
27. Buck Moth
The buck moth (Hemileuca maia) stands out among Maryland’s giant silk moths for flying in daylight during late fall, well after most other saturniids have finished their season. University of Florida entomologists describe it plainly: the buck moth, Hemileuca maia (Drury), is a member of Saturniidae, the giant silkworm family.
Caterpillars carry venomous spines capable of causing a sharp, burning sting, a trait that has made buck moth outbreaks a recurring seasonal news story in parks and school yards across the mid-Atlantic, including in the insect populations tracked in New York. Adults are black with white banding and a reddish abdomen tip, and males are noticeably more active fliers than the heavier-bodied females.
28. Ailanthus Silkmoth
The ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia) is not native to Maryland or even North America; it originated in Asia and was introduced in the 1800s in an attempt to establish a silk industry using the ailanthus tree as a food source. It has since naturalized and is confirmed on Maryland’s Saturniidae checklist as Ailanthus SilkmothSamia cynthia.
Adults are large, with soft gray-brown wings marked by pale, crescent-shaped bands and pink accents near the body. Because the species and its host tree both trace back to Asia, related silk moths and their native ranges are worth comparing against the insect species found in the Philippines, where several close relatives still live.
29. Gypsy Moth
The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) has caused more forest damage in Maryland than any other moth on this list, and its name has changed in recent years. The spongy moth, formerly gypsy moth, is the troublemaker whose caterpillars strip leaves from forest trees across North America and Eurasia; the Entomological Society of America renamed the species in 2022, replacing a name that was an ethnic slur.
Local pest control experts describe the scale of the problem directly: moth pests in the state include the gypsy moth, whose larvae have defoliated thousands of acres of Maryland woodland during peak outbreak years. Ironically, the parasitic wasps and flies introduced decades ago to fight this invasive species have also harmed native giants; conservation researchers note that populations of native saturniid moths are shrinking as an unanticipated result of fly and wasp parasites intentionally introduced to prey on nonnative, invasive spongy moths, since those parasitoids also attack cecropia, luna, and promethea moths. The species remains widespread across the northeastern United States, including the insect species documented in Canada, where it also causes recurring forest damage.
30. Pandorus Sphinx Moth
The pandorus sphinx moth (Eumorpha pandorus) closes out this list as one of Maryland’s largest and most subtly beautiful hawkmoths, with olive-green forewings marked by darker patches and pink-tinged hindwings. It belongs to the sphinx moth family alongside other large, strong-flying nectar feeders found throughout the mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Caterpillars feed on grape and Virginia creeper vines, growing to an impressive size before pupating underground rather than spinning an exposed cocoon. Sphinx moths as a group show remarkable diversity worldwide, a pattern echoed in the wide variety of insect species documented in the Amazon rainforest, home to some of the largest hawkmoths on Earth.
From six-inch silk moths to half-inch pantry invaders, Maryland’s moth population reflects the state’s mix of hardwood forests, coastal plains, and dense suburban neighborhoods. Anyone drawn to this kind of backyard wildlife watching might enjoy exploring the state’s other insect and animal groups, including its ant species, frogs, and snakes, all of which share the same varied habitats that make the state so good for moth-watching in the first place.