Butterflies and Moths of Alberta

304 Species Recorded in Alberta

Top 20 Species Checklist All Photographs

100 Most Recent Sightings in Alberta

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Most Recent Sightings in Alberta

See more recent sightings in Alberta

Hoary Comma
Polygonia gracilis

Observed: Oct 11, 2024

Submitted by: SandraB

Verified: Oct 19, 2024

Verified by: Paul Prappas

Details

Montana Six-plume Moth
Alucita montana

Observed: Sep 15, 2024

Submitted by: JChris173

Verified: Sep 20, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata

Observed: Sep 11, 2024

Submitted by: doshabsa

Verified: Sep 11, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

Maple Spanworm
Ennomos magnaria

Observed: Sep 06, 2024

Submitted by: BrittanyFarrish

Verified: Sep 16, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

Catocala sp.

Observed: Sep 05, 2024

Submitted by: rvorst

Verified: Oct 02, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

White Underwing
Catocala relicta

Observed: Sep 05, 2024

Submitted by: Jay Sawatzky

Verified: Sep 08, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

Civil Rustic
Caradrina montana

Observed: Sep 04, 2024

Submitted by: JChris173

Verified: Oct 02, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

American Idia Moth
Idia americalis

Observed: Sep 03, 2024

Submitted by: Jsmcremer

Verified: Sep 04, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

Wavy-Lined Emerald
Synchlora aerata

Observed: Sep 01, 2024

Submitted by: Jsmcremer

Verified: Sep 02, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

Obelisk Dart Moth
Euxoa obeliscoides

Observed: Sep 01, 2024

Submitted by: Jsmcremer

Verified: Sep 02, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

Copper Underwing
Amphipyra pyramidoides

Observed: Sep 01, 2024

Submitted by: Jsmcremer

Verified: Sep 02, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

Fishia discors

Observed: Sep 01, 2024

Submitted by: Jsmcremer

Verified: Sep 03, 2024

Verified by: davidwdroppers

Details

Top 10 Commonly Reported Butterflies and Moths of Alberta

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa	Short projections on both wings, borders irregular. Upperside is purple-black with a wide, bright yellow border on outer margins, and a row of iridescent blue spots at the inner edge of the border.
Milbert's Tortoiseshell Aglais milberti	Forewing tip squared-off. Upperside is black with a wide orange submarginal band which grades to yellow at the inner edge of band. Narrow black marginal border on both wings; the hindwing border may contain some blue spots.
Polyphemus moth Antheraea polyphemus	Upperside is reddish to yellowish brown; forewing margin is usually lighter than the basal area; forewing submarginal line is pink, or black and pink. Clear oval eyespots are ringed with yellow, blue, and black; hindwing eyespot is separated from the basal area of the wing by a thin pink line. Underside has rust, brown, and pink markings.
Bedstraw hawkmoth Hyles gallii	Forewing upperside is dark olive brown with lighter brown along the outer margin and a tan band running from the wing tip to the inner margin. Hindwing upperside is dark brown with a pale narrow outer margin and a reddish median band which becomes white at the inner margin.
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui	Upperside is orange-brown with darker wing bases; forewing with black apex patch and white bar on leading edge; hindwing submarginal row of 5 small black spots sometimes has blue scales. Underside has a black, brown, and gray pattern with 4 small submarginal eyespots.
Columbia silkmoth Hyalophora columbia	Wings are dark brown to red-brown. The gray area outside the white postmedian band does not contain any red. Crescent spots on the forewings and hindwings are white, although occasionally the spots on the forewing may be reduced or absent.
Spotted Tussock Moth or Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa maculata	Forewing deep yellow with four brown bands (usually merged); partial fifth band extends inward from costa. Partial band darkest where reniform spot normally occurs. Hindwing paler yellow, translucent, unmarked.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis	Smaller than Eastern or Western Tiger Swallowtails. Upperside of forewing with relatively broad black stripes; underside with marginal yellow spots merged into continuous band. Hindwing with numerous orange scales. Extremely rare black female form.
Spurge hawkmoth Hyles euphorbiae	Forewing upperside is pale yellow-gray to lavender-gray, with a dark brown spot at the center of the costa and at the wing base, and a dark brown band running from the wing tip to the inner margin. The costal and outer margins may be dusted with pink or gray. Hindwing upperside is black with a pale greenish outer margin and a pinkish brown median band which becomes white at the inner margin.
Virginia Ctenucha Ctenucha virginica	The largest and most broad-winged of wasp moths in North America. Body metallic blue; head and sides of collar orange. Forewing deep grayish brown, metallic blue at base. Hindwing black. Fringes on all wings partly white.

Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

304 Species Recorded in Alberta

100 Most Recent Sightings in Alberta

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Most Recent Sightings in Alberta

Hoary Comma
Polygonia gracilis

Montana Six-plume Moth
Alucita montana

White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata

Maple Spanworm
Ennomos magnaria

Catocala sp.

White Underwing
Catocala relicta

Civil Rustic
Caradrina montana

American Idia Moth
Idia americalis

Wavy-Lined Emerald
Synchlora aerata

Obelisk Dart Moth
Euxoa obeliscoides

Copper Underwing
Amphipyra pyramidoides

Fishia discors

Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa

Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Aglais milberti

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

Bedstraw hawkmoth
Hyles gallii

Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui

Columbia silkmoth
Hyalophora columbia

Spotted Tussock Moth or Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
Lophocampa maculata

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis

Spurge hawkmoth
Hyles euphorbiae

Virginia Ctenucha
Ctenucha virginica

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Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Butterflies and Moths of Alberta

304 Species Recorded in Alberta

100 Most Recent Sightings in Alberta

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Alberta

Hoary CommaPolygonia gracilis

Montana Six-plume MothAlucita montana

White-lined SphinxHyles lineata

Maple SpanwormEnnomos magnaria

White UnderwingCatocala relicta

Civil RusticCaradrina montana

American Idia MothIdia americalis

Wavy-Lined EmeraldSynchlora aerata

Obelisk Dart Moth Euxoa obeliscoides

Copper UnderwingAmphipyra pyramidoides

Mourning CloakNymphalis antiopa

Milbert's TortoiseshellAglais milberti

Polyphemus mothAntheraea polyphemus

Bedstraw hawkmothHyles gallii

Painted LadyVanessa cardui

Columbia silkmothHyalophora columbia

Spotted Tussock Moth or Yellow-Spotted Tiger MothLophocampa maculata

Canadian Tiger SwallowtailPapilio canadensis

Spurge hawkmothHyles euphorbiae

Virginia CtenuchaCtenucha virginica

Hoary Comma
Polygonia gracilis

Montana Six-plume Moth
Alucita montana

White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata

Maple Spanworm
Ennomos magnaria

White Underwing
Catocala relicta

Civil Rustic
Caradrina montana

American Idia Moth
Idia americalis

Wavy-Lined Emerald
Synchlora aerata

Obelisk Dart Moth
Euxoa obeliscoides

Copper Underwing
Amphipyra pyramidoides

Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa

Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Aglais milberti

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

Bedstraw hawkmoth
Hyles gallii

Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui

Columbia silkmoth
Hyalophora columbia

Spotted Tussock Moth or Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
Lophocampa maculata

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis

Spurge hawkmoth
Hyles euphorbiae

Virginia Ctenucha
Ctenucha virginica