A single porch light in Georgia can pull in dozens of moth species in one summer night, yet most people never look closely at what lands on the siding. The types of moths in Georgia range from pastel maple-feeders to wasp-mimicking clearwings that fly in broad daylight.
This guide covers 30 of them, grouped loosely by family. Each entry covers what the adult looks like, what the caterpillars eat, and where you are most likely to notice it, whether that is a backyard, a pine woodland, or a soybean field.
Seeing a moth indoors does not automatically mean trouble. Georgia is home to many outdoor moth species, and seeing one inside does not automatically indicate an infestation. For a wider look at the group, the different types of insects overview puts moths in context.
Important Note: Species totals for Georgia vary by source and method. One identification site lists 591 butterflies and moths found in the state, while the Moth Photographers Group reports 1,993 species records for Georgia, including butterflies and specimens not identified to species. Treat any single number as a snapshot, not a final count.
1. Rosy Maple Moth
The rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) looks like a scrap of strawberry-lemonade candy with wings. Its fuzzy yellow body and pink-banded wings make it one of the easiest Georgia moths to recognize, even for beginners.
The caterpillars feed on maple leaves, so adults turn up wherever red maples grow, including suburban yards and wooded neighborhoods. Look for them at porch lights after dark, then check leaf litter or tree trunks by day. Readers who want more variety can browse this list of different types of moths from around the world.
2. Southern Pine Sphinx
The southern pine sphinx (Lapara coniferarum) is a slim, gray-brown hawk moth built for fast flight. It appears on regional lists of Georgia hawk moths alongside the waved and small-eyed sphinx. Its streamlined shape suits its home in pine country.
The caterpillars are green and striped, which hides them well among pine needles. Pines support other moths too, and some are real forestry pests. The Georgia Forestry Commission notes three pine tip moth species in the state, including the Nantucket pine tip moth. For more on the larval stage, see the guide to types of caterpillars in Georgia.
3. Trumpet Vine Sphinx
The trumpet vine sphinx (Paratrea plebeja) is also called the plebeian sphinx. It is a modest-looking moth in mottled gray and brown, with darker bands across the forewings.
As the name suggests, its caterpillars feed on trumpet creeper, a native vine that scrambles over fences and utility poles across the state. Gardeners who grow the vine are the most likely to meet this species. Adults visit lights from late spring through summer.
4. Waved Sphinx
The waved sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa) is a large, gray moth with wavy dark lines across its forewings. At rest, its wings fold into a shape that matches tree bark.
The caterpillars feed on ash and fringetree, and also on privet, which is common in Georgia neighborhoods. The Moth Identification site lists the waved sphinx among Georgia’s hawk moths. Adults rarely feed during the day, so lights are the best way to see one.
5. Small-Eyed Sphinx
The small-eyed sphinx (Paonias myops) has ragged, scalloped forewing edges that look like a dead leaf. The surprise comes when it is disturbed. Its hindwings flash with small blue-centered eyespots, a startle display meant to scare off birds.
Caterpillars feed on wild cherry, plum, and related trees. That makes edges of woodlands and old orchards good hunting grounds. If you are curious how the Georgia list compares to the world total, read how many types of moths there are.
6. Clematis Clearwing Moth
Clearwing moths are day-flying members of the family Sesiidae that borrow the look of wasps. The clematis clearwing has the characteristic see-through wing patches and a narrow, banded abdomen.
Its name points to its host. The larvae are borers in clematis and related vines, so the moth is most often noticed near garden trellises on sunny days. Because it hovers and darts like a wasp, many people walk away without realizing it is harmless.
7. Riley’s Clearwing Moth
Riley’s clearwing is another wasp mimic, and it is easy to overlook. Adults are small and dark, with clear patches in the wings and bright banding on the body. They fly in daylight and visit flowers.
Like other clearwings, the larval stage is hidden inside plant tissue, so the best clue is often the adult on a flower head. Watch sunny meadow edges and weedy field borders in summer. Binoculars or a close-focus camera help separate these from true wasps.
8. Dogwood Borer
The dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula) is a clearwing whose caterpillars cause the most trouble for tree owners. The adult is a dark, wasp-like moth that flies by day and lays eggs on bark, often near wounds or the base of the trunk.
Larvae tunnel under the bark of flowering dogwood, which weakens branches and can leave stained, rough patches. Avoiding trunk injuries from mowers and string trimmers is the simplest prevention. The types of insects that eat wood page covers other borers homeowners meet.
9. Ironweed Clearwing
The ironweed clearwing is a native borer tied to wild ironweed, the tall purple-flowered plant of pastures, ditches, and meadow edges. Adults have clear wing windows and a slender, wasp-banded body.
Because ironweed blooms in late summer, this is the time to look for adults feeding at flowers. Leaving a patch of native ironweed uncut gives the larvae a place to develop. Few people record this moth, which makes any sighting worth photographing.
10. Snowberry Clearwing
The snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is a bumblebee mimic with a fuzzy yellow and black body and clear wings. It hovers at flowers like a hummingbird, which has earned it names such as hummingbird moth and flying lobster.
Its caterpillars feed on honeysuckle and snowberry. Planting native bush honeysuckle, or flowers like bee balm and phlox, brings adults in daylight. The comparison with real pollinators is easy to test using the guide to types of bees in Georgia.
Pro Tip: To see small and nocturnal moths, hang a white sheet and aim a porch light or UV lamp at it after dark in warm weather. Check the sheet at dusk and again before dawn, because different species arrive at different hours.
11. Batman Moth
The Batman moth (Coelostathma discopunctana) is a small tortricid, or leafroller, with a dark wing pattern that resembles a bat silhouette when viewed from above. It is easy to miss at about thumbnail size.
The iNaturalist guide to Moths of Georgia includes the Batman moth among its tortricid leafroller entries. Look on pale walls near outdoor lights, where the dark markings stand out most clearly.
12. Angel Moth
The name angel moth suggests pale, soft-looking wings, and that matches the way these small moths rest with a clean, light appearance. Naming varies between field guides and hobby lists, so check the species page when you photograph one.
Small moths like this are best identified with a clear photo of the wing pattern and the resting posture. Upload your sighting to a community platform and let experienced observers confirm it. A fresh, undamaged specimen is far easier to match than a worn one.
13. Spotted Apatelodes Moth
The spotted apatelodes (Apatelodes torrefacta) is a soft, gray-brown moth with a mottled pattern and dark spotting on the forewings. At rest, it looks like a clump of bark or lichen.
The caterpillar is the showier stage. It is covered in pale hairs with long dark pencil-like tufts, and it feeds on a wide range of hardwoods, including wild cherry and maple. Woodland edges and mixed hardwood yards offer the best chances.
14. Fall Armyworm Moth
The fall armyworm moth (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a plain, gray-brown moth that causes outsized damage. Its caterpillars feed on lawn grasses, corn, sorghum, and many other crops.
The species is a tropical native that reinvades northern areas each year rather than surviving hard winters, which is why southern states such as Georgia, and neighbors like Texas, deal with it first. See the guide to types of insects in Texas for a comparison. Look for brown patches in turf that thin out quickly in late summer.
Key Insight: Armyworms and cutworms are both caterpillars of owlet moths. Their adults are dull and similar, so scout for the larvae and the damage pattern instead of trying to identify the moth.
15. Yellow-Striped Armyworm Moth
The yellow-striped armyworm moth (Spodoptera ornithogalli) is a gray-brown owlet with pale streaks on the forewings. It appears on a regional list of Georgia butterflies and moths. Adults fly at night and come to lights.
The caterpillars are the easier clue, with a yellow stripe down each side and dark triangular markings on the back. They feed on cotton, tomato, and many other plants. Gardeners who find ragged tomato leaves in summer should look for these larvae on the undersides.
16. Green Cutworm Moth
The green cutworm moth (Anicla infecta) is a mottled, subtle owlet moth that flies at night. Its caterpillars chew grasses and field crops, and they sometimes clip young seedlings at ground level.
Cutworms are well-known garden pests across the eastern states, including the Midwest, as shown in the types of insects in Ohio guide. For help identifying garden damage in Georgia, the University of Georgia’s guide to insect pests of Southeastern neighborhoods covers moths and their management. You can read it at UGA Extension.
17. Virgin Tiger Moth
The virgin tiger moth (Grammia virgo) is a striking contrast to the plain cutworm moths. The forewings are black with cream stripes, and when threatened it flashes red-orange hindwings spotted with black.
That coloring warns predators that tiger moths taste bad. The woolly bear-type caterpillars eat low-growing plants and weeds, so adults are most likely in open fields and sunny roadsides. Look for them at lights in summer.
18. Agreeable Tiger Moth
The agreeable tiger moth (Spilosoma congrua) is mostly white, with a soft, fuzzy look and few markings. It is a small, easy-to-miss moth that rests with its wings folded like a tent.
The fuzzy caterpillars feed on a mix of garden plants and wild herbs, and the species ranges across eastern North America. Compare it with regional lists like the types of insects in New York guide to see how many species overlap with Georgia.
19. Salt Marsh Moth
The salt marsh moth (Estigmene acrea) is a white moth with black spots and a bright yellow-orange abdomen. Males show yellow-orange hindwings, while females keep theirs white. The name is misleading, since it lives well beyond marshes.
The caterpillars are generalists that eat a wide range of crops and garden plants, including cotton. The moth is widespread across North America, as the list of moths found in Michigan shows. In Georgia, look for it at lights on warm nights.
20. Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth
The velvetbean caterpillar moth (Anticarsia gemmatalis) is a gray-brown owlet with a diagonal dark line across each forewing. Adults rest with their wings held in a swept-back triangle.
Caterpillars feed on soybean and other legumes, and they can strip leaves quickly in late summer. The moth migrates northward from warmer regions each year. Farmers and gardeners growing beans should scout for chewed leaves from midsummer onward.
21. Variable Metallata Moth
The variable metallata moth (Metallata absumens) is a small, brownish owlet moth whose wing pattern differs a good deal from one individual to the next. That variation is the origin of the common name.
Because the markings shift, identification relies on shape and combined features rather than a single mark. It is an example of the many small, quiet moths that go unnoticed because they look unremarkable at first glance. Fresh specimens at lights are the easiest to compare.
22. Yellow-Collared Scape Moth
The yellow-collared scape moth (Cisseps fulvicollis) is among the few moths that fly in daylight. Adults are dark gray to black with a bright yellow-orange collar behind the head, and they often visit goldenrod and other late-season flowers.
Caterpillars feed on lichens and grasses, which explains why the moth is so common in fields and sunny yards. Some sites give a different scientific name for it, so confirm with a trusted reference like the iNaturalist Georgia moth guide.
23. Green Cloverworm Moth
The green cloverworm moth (Hypena scabra) is a dark brown snout moth that holds its wings in a narrow triangle. The wings often show a pale zigzag line across them.
Its caterpillars are slender and green, wriggle when touched, and feed on clover and soybean. The table below compares this species with other crop-feeding moths in this guide.
| Moth | Main Caterpillar Food | Typical Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Armyworm Moth | Grasses, corn, sorghum | Lawn and field damage |
| Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth | Cotton, tomato, many plants | Leaf feeding in gardens |
| Green Cutworm Moth | Grasses and field crops | Clipped seedlings |
| Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth | Soybean and legumes | Leaf stripping |
| Green Cloverworm Moth | Clover and soybean | Leaf feeding in fields |
24. Filbertworm Moth
The filbertworm moth (Cydia latiferreana) is a small, coppery-brown tortricid that is easy to overlook. The tiny caterpillars develop inside nuts and acorns, where they feed on the kernel.
Acorns with a small round exit hole may hold a filbertworm or an acorn weevil, a beetle. You can compare the two groups with the guide to types of beetles in Georgia. Oak woodlands in fall are the place to look.
25. Hickory Shuckworm Moth
The hickory shuckworm moth (Cydia caryana) is a small, gray tortricid that matters most where hickories and pecans grow. The adult is hardly noticeable, but its larvae are well known to growers.
The caterpillars feed in the green shuck that surrounds the nut. Early feeding can cause young nuts to drop, and later feeding can leave the shuck stuck to the shell. With Georgia’s large pecan industry, this small moth has more economic weight than its looks suggest.
26. Garden Tortrix
The garden tortrix (Clepsis peritana) is a small tan to straw-colored moth whose forewings are often marked with darker bands. It is a leafroller, and the caterpillars fold or tie leaves to make a shelter while feeding.
Despite the name, the damage is usually light. It feeds on a variety of garden plants and berries. Rolled leaves held with silk are the easiest sign, and a gentle unrolling usually reveals a small green larva. Lady beetles and other predators help keep numbers low, as in the guide to types of ladybugs in Georgia.
27. Ragweed Borer Moth
The ragweed borer moth (Epiblema strenuana) is a small, mottled brown and gray tortricid. Its life is tied to ragweed, a plant that most Georgians know for its pollen.
Caterpillars tunnel into ragweed stems, which can cause swelling and stunted growth. The moth has been used abroad as a biological control agent against ragweed-type weeds. Adults are small and quiet, and they turn up near weedy lots and field edges in late summer.
28. Widow Underwing
The widow underwing (Catocala vidua) is a large, dark moth in a group famous for hidden color. The forewings are mottled gray and blend in with bark. The hindwings are black with white edging, which gives the moth a mournful look.
The caterpillars feed on walnut and hickory relatives. Underwings are classic moths for baiting, and many enthusiasts use a mix of fermented fruit painted on trees to attract them. Look in mature hardwood woods in late summer.
29. Clymene Moth
The Clymene moth (Haploa clymene) is a clean white and cream moth with a yellow-brown band running across each forewing. The hindwings are white, and the pattern looks neat and graphic.
Caterpillars feed on herbaceous plants and shrubs, and adults come to lights in summer. Some websites list a different scientific name, so use a field guide or an expert-reviewed database to check. Because it is a tiger moth relative, its striking look is a warning to predators.
Important Note: Some web guides list different scientific names for the Clymene moth and the yellow-collared scape moth. Confirm names against a regional checklist or species database before you log a sighting.
30. Decorated Owlet
The decorated owlet belongs to the owlet moth group, the biggest block of moths in most regional checklists. The iNaturalist Moths of Georgia guide lists 64 entries in the owlet superfamily. Many of them are small, patterned, and tricky to separate.
Owlets reward patient observers. Photograph the wings from above, note the size, and record where and when you saw it. Whether you found a rosy maple moth on the porch or a decorated owlet on the sheet, every record adds to what we know about the types of moths in Georgia.