floridamoths

Southern Pearly Eye

The Southern Pearly Eye (Lethe portlandia) has a wingspan of 2¼ – 2¾ inches. The antennal club (the tip and thickest part of the antenna) is orange. As caterpillars, they are green or brown with thin, light stripes, two short tails, and two reddish horns on green heads. As chrysalis (pupa) they are little green pendants that often dangle from a host plant stem. Their host plants are Canes (Arundenaria spp.). They are most active on cloudy days and at dusk.
Cool Fact: Cocoons and chrysalis are often used interchangeably when discussing moths and butterflies, but they are two completely different things! Moths form cocoons, whereas butterflies form chrysalis.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Webworm Moth

– Webworm Moth –
The Ailanthus Webworm (Atteva aurea) adults are considered good pollinators. The host plant, Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a non-native plant in Florida that the Ailanthus Webworm will use for laying eggs. Caterpillars will emerge and feed on the leaves. This species also use two native Florida plants. Both are Paradise Trees, Simarouba glauca, and Simarouba amara.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Luna Moth

Luna Moth
The adult Luna moth, Actias luna (Linnaeus), can be found every month of the year in Florida’s forests. They range from southern Canada to Florida and as far west as Texas. This large green moth has a wing span of 3–4¼ inches.
The luna moth lays eggs, and the caterpillars are bright green. Host plants include sweet gum, sumacs, hickories, persimmon, and plants in the walnut family. The adult moth cannot eat and only lives long enough to mate, and lay eggs. You will be lucky if you encounter one of these beautiful moths while sauntering through the woods.
Fun Fact: The Luna moth appeared on a first-class United States postage stamp issued in 1987.
Photo Credit: Andy Waldo
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Gaudy Sphinx

The Gaudy sphinx, Eumorpha labruscae, is a common and vibrant green moth whose range is from Argentina to Canada. Host plants include muscadine grapes, Christmas bush, and other vines. Pupae climb down into the soil where metamorphosis takes place. They emerge as adults. Females release pheromones at night to attract males who follow the scent.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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Polyphemus Moth

The Polyphemus moth, Antheraea polyphemus, is a giant silk moth that can be found from Mexico to southern Canada and in every US state except Nevada and Arizona. The moth’s wingspan measures 4 – 6 inches. Colors vary and include gray, tan, and brown with shades of red, yellow, and pink. Polyphemus moths have large eyespots on their hind wings and were named after Polyphemus, the giant cyclops from Greek mythology with a large eye in the middle of his forehead. The male’s (pink pictured) antennae are bushier than the female’s (tan pictured) antennae.
 
Females produce 2 broods each year. In Florida, newly emerged Polyphemus moths can be found year-round. Because of their vestigial mouthparts, they cannot eat. A newly emerged female will release a pheromone to attract a male. The dating game lasts throughout the night with the most activity a few hours before sunrise. The pair will remain coupled all day before separating at sunset. For the next several nights, the female will lay single eggs in groups of two or three on a leaf of an oak tree or other desirable host tree.
 
Look for these moths near man-made light sources. Of concern is the Polyphemus moth’s attraction to mercury vapor lights that may distract them from mating, thus impacting their populations in cities and neighborhoods. (Worth and Muller 1979)
 
Photo Credit: David Gale (pink)
Photo Credit: Erin James (tan)
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