Types of Moths in Hawaii: 8 Species You Can Spot Across the Islands
October 18, 2026
The largest native insect in Hawaii is a moth, and it is rarer than most people realize. Blackburn’s sphinx moth has a wingspan of up to 5 inches, and it is a federally listed endangered species. That fact alone shows how much the types of moths in Hawaii have to offer beyond the occasional porch-light visitor.
Moths reached the islands by many routes. A March 2026 Spectrum News report on newly identified leaf-roller moths describes ancestors that crossed thousands of miles of open ocean. Many of the moths people meet in yards today, though, are hawkmoths, owlet moths, and grass-feeders that are common across warm regions of the world.
This guide covers eight of them: four hawkmoths, two owlet moths, and two lawn-dwelling webworms. Three of the first ones appear on the Butterflies and Moths of North America list of commonly reported Hawaii species: the oleander hawk-moth, the black witch, and the pink-spotted hawkmoth. If you want a wider view of the group first, start with our overview of different types of moths.
| Moth | Group | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Oleander Hawk-Moth | Hawkmoth | Olive-green body and pink-tinged wings; caterpillars on oleander |
| Black Witch | Owlet moth | Bat-like size and dark wings |
| Pink-Spotted Hawkmoth | Hawkmoth | Pink banding on the abdomen; often mistaken for a rarer relative |
| Plain Grey Hawkmoth | Hawkmoth | Muted coloring and dusk activity |
| Guava Moth | Owlet moth | Link to guava trees in island yards |
| Yam Hawkmoth | Hawkmoth | Common statewide; named for its host plant |
| Grass Webworm | Grass moth | Caterpillars that damage turf |
| Pale Sod-Webworm | Grass moth | Small, pale adults that flutter up from lawns |
1. Oleander Hawk-Moth
The oleander hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii) tops the Hawaii list of commonly reported species on Butterflies and Moths of North America. Adults have olive-green forewings marked with pink and white bands. They fly at dusk, hover at flowers, and drink nectar through a long tongue.
The caterpillar eats oleander, the hedge shrub found in many Hawaii landscapes. Young larvae are pale green, and older ones carry a bold eyespot behind the head that makes them look like small snakes. Oleander is toxic to people and pets, so wear gloves if you need to move a caterpillar off a garden plant.
Pro Tip: Check oleander hedges at dusk for adults and in the morning for caterpillars. A large, leaf-stripped branch usually means a hungry larva is nearby.
2. Black Witch
The black witch (Ascalapha odorata) is the moth most likely to make a visitor jump. Some people compare it to a bat because of its size and dark color, and its wingspan runs from five to seven inches depending on sex. Females show pinkish-white bands on the wings that males lack.
It is a common sight statewide, according to A-Z Animals, which also says its population appears to be on the incline in Hawaii. The moth is harmless to people. It often rests on walls, under eaves, and in garages during the day.
Folklore gives this moth a second reputation. Elsewhere it is linked with death, yet Hawaiians reportedly saw it as a loved one’s soul returning to say goodbye after a family member’s passing, per Moth Identification. For a sense of how many other large moths exist worldwide, see our breakdown of how many types of moths there are.
3. Pink-Spotted Hawkmoth
The pink-spotted hawkmoth (Agrius cingulata) is a big, gray-bodied moth with pink bands along the abdomen. It is another of the most commonly reported species in Hawaii. Its larvae are known as sweetpotato hornworms, and they feed on sweet potato and related morning glory vines.
Island naturalists care about this moth because it resembles a rarer relative. In Hawaii, Blackburn’s sphinx moth can be confused with the sweetpotato hornworm. The endangered moth is grayish brown with black bands on the hindwings and five orange spots along each side of the abdomen, so orange spots point to the rarer species and pink bands to the common one.
Blackburn’s sphinx moth was believed extinct in the late 1970s before a rediscovery on East Maui in 1984, per the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species profile has identification photos. Mainland readers can compare the lineup with the hawkmoths in our guide to moths in Texas.
4. Plain Grey Hawkmoth
The plain grey hawkmoth belongs to the same family as the oleander and pink-spotted species. Hawkmoths have stout bodies, narrow wings, and a fast, hovering flight that earns them hummingbird comparisons. The word “plain” in this moth’s name refers to muted gray-brown tones instead of the pink and green of its showier cousins.
Hawaii has a lot of hawkmoth variety. Moth Identification lists the pale striated hawkmoth, white-brow hawkmoth, Swinhoe’s striated hawkmoth, and white-lined sphinx moth alongside the others in this guide. Telling them apart usually takes a photo and a close look at wing stripes.
Important Note: Reference sources use different common names for some Hawaii hawkmoths and webworms, and none of the sources reviewed for this article gave detailed, dated records for the plain grey hawkmoth. Treat common names as a starting point and confirm a sighting against photos on a regional database.
Night-flying insects also feed other island wildlife. If you enjoy watching what comes out after dark, our guide to frogs in Hawaii covers some of the animals that hunt around porch lights.
5. Guava Moth
The guava moth (Ophiusa disjungens) is an owlet moth. Moth Identification places it in the Erebidae family, the same group as the black witch. Its common name comes from its host plant, and guava trees are widespread in Hawaii’s backyards, gulches, and roadside thickets.
Adults are mid-sized and dull brown, which helps them blend into bark and leaf litter during the day. Most sightings happen at night around lights or on screen doors. Caterpillars chew guava leaves, but they rarely do enough damage to worry a home gardener.
Many of Hawaii’s owlet moths are small and brown, so the guava moth is easy to overlook. Pairing a photo with the host plant is the fastest way to confirm an identification. Our guide to ants in Hawaii helps with another group of guava-tree residents.
6. Yam Hawkmoth
The yam hawkmoth (Theretra nessus) is one of the hawkmoths A-Z Animals lists as common throughout the state. It has a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body and brownish wings with darker diagonal lines. The caterpillars feed on yam vines and related plants, which gives the moth its name.
Like other hawkmoths, adults feed at dusk on tubular, scented flowers. A porch with night-blooming plants can attract them. Their wingbeats are quick enough to produce a soft whir.
- Look for adults near lit windows an hour or two after sunset.
- Watch pale or fragrant flowers for hovering visitors.
- Check yam and other vine leaves for chewed edges and dark droppings.
People who like comparing regional moth faunas can also browse the types of moths in Georgia, where hawkmoths are a major group too.
7. Grass Webworm
The grass webworm (Herpetogramma licarsisalis) is a small, tan-brown moth with a lawn-chewing caterpillar. Larvae live in silk-lined tunnels in the thatch and come out to feed on grass blades at night. Heavy infestations leave brown, ragged patches in turf, pastures, and golf course roughs.
Adults are easy to miss. They flutter up from the grass when disturbed and settle again a few feet away. Outbreaks tend to follow warm, humid spells, so lawns in lowland, irrigated areas are most at risk.
Pro Tip: To confirm webworms, mix a couple of tablespoons of dish soap into a gallon of water and pour it over a one-square-foot patch of damaged turf. Caterpillars rise to the surface within a few minutes.
Hawaii is not the only state with turf-feeding moths. Compare the island pest with lawn and garden species in the types of moths in Michigan.
8. Pale Sod-Webworm
The pale sod-webworm is another grass specialist, and its life cycle closely mirrors that of the grass webworm. Small, light-colored adults fly low over lawns at dusk and drop eggs into the turf. The caterpillars then spin silk shelters and graze on the blades.
Gardeners often cannot tell the two webworms apart, and the control steps are the same. Water lawns deeply, mow at the recommended height, and check for caterpillars before applying any treatment. Birds, ants, and ground beetles also eat webworm larvae, so broad-spectrum sprays can backfire.
Eight moths cannot cover an island chain with 125 butterfly and moth records on Insect Identification or the 44 species logged on Butterflies and Moths of North America, and the gap between those counts shows how much remains to be documented. Start with the black witch on a wall, the hawkmoths at dusk flowers, and the webworms in the lawn, then widen your search from there. For more island wildlife, try our guide to dolphins in Hawaii.