Butterflies and Moths of Illinois

918 Species Recorded in Illinois

Top 20 Species Checklist All Photographs

100 Most Recent Sightings in Illinois

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Most Recent Sightings in Illinois

See more recent sightings in Illinois

American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis

Observed: Jun 22, 2024

Submitted by: Ozark_Bill

Verified: Jun 23, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

Observed: Jun 21, 2024

Submitted by: pszczolkowski

Verified: Jun 21, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

White-marked Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigma

Observed: Jun 19, 2024

Submitted by: Janelmer

Verified: Jun 20, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis

Observed: Jun 19, 2024

Submitted by: vogelbild

Verified: Jun 21, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

White-marked Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigma

Observed: Jun 19, 2024

Submitted by: rosaliinda

Verified: Jun 21, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Leconte's Haploa
Haploa lecontei

Observed: Jun 18, 2024

Submitted by: SGulovsen

Verified: Jun 20, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Maple Callus Borer Moth
Synanthedon acerni

Observed: Jun 18, 2024

Submitted by: Soft-heartedone

Verified: Jun 19, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

False Crocus Geometer
Xanthotype urticaria

Observed: Jun 17, 2024

Submitted by: mtobin11

Verified: Jun 22, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Reversed Haploa
Haploa reversa

Observed: Jun 16, 2024

Submitted by: Joceb2005

Verified: Jun 19, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Silvery Checkerspot
Chlosyne nycteis

Observed: Jun 16, 2024

Submitted by: Joceb2005

Verified: Jun 17, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Observed: Jun 16, 2024

Submitted by: Joceb2005

Verified: Jun 17, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Least Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitor

Observed: Jun 16, 2024

Submitted by: Joceb2005

Verified: Jun 22, 2024

Verified by: rogerdowner

Details

Top 10 Commonly Reported Butterflies and Moths of Illinois

Monarch Danaus plexippus	Upperside of male is bright orange with wide black borders and black veins; hindwing has a patch of scent scales. Upperside of female is orange-brown with wide black borders and blurred black veins. Both sexes have white spots on borders and apex. The Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) is a Mullerian mimic; it has similar coloration and is also distasteful.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus	Male is yellow with dark tiger stripes. Female has 2 forms: one yellow like the male and the other black with shadows of dark stripes. Hindwing of both female forms has a row of striking blue chevrons and an iridescent blue wash over parts of the interior hindwing. The upperside hindwing has a prominent orange marginal spot that is generally larger than the row of pale marginal spots. On the underside of forewing of spring individuals the row of marginal spots may be merged into a continuous band, thus appearing similar to the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta	Upperside is black with white spots near the apex; forewing with red median band, hindwing with red marginal band. The winter form is smaller and duller, summer form larger and brighter with an interrupted forewing band.
Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos	Quite variable. Males usually have black antennal knobs. Upperside is orange with black borders; postmedian and submarginal areas are crossed by fine black marks. Underside of hindwing has a dark marginal patch containing a light-colored crescent. Spring and fall broods (form marcia) have a gray mottled hindwing below.
Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes	Upper surface of wings mostly black; on inner edge of hindwing is a black spot centered in larger orange spot. Male has yellow band near edge of wings; female has row of yellow spots. Female hindwing with iridescent blue band. In the Southwest, yellow forms predominate in the subspecies P. coloro.
Eastern Tailed-Blue Cupido comyntas	One narrow tail on hindwing. Upperside of male iridescent blue; summer females uniformly brown, spring females smaller with much blue at the wing bases. Underside of hindwing pale gray with black bar at end of cell, distinct black spots, and three large orange spots at outer margin near tail.
Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus	Wings are brown-black; hindwing is lobed. Forewing has transparent gold spots; underside of hindwing has a metallic silver band.
Cabbage White Pieris rapae	Upperside of wings white; forewing with black tip. Two submarginal black spots in female, one in male. Underside of hindwing and forewing apex evenly yellow-green or gray-green. Spring and fall short-day form is smaller, less yellow, with reduced black areas.
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia	Upperside is brown. Forewing with 2 orange cell bars and 2 eyespots; part of white subapical band appears in the largest, lower eyespot. Hindwing has 2 eyespots; upper one is largest and contains a magenta crescent. Underside of hindwing is brown or tan in the wet season (summer) form and rose-red in the dry season (fall) form.
Question Mark Polygonia interrogationis	Forewing hooked; upperside is red-orange with black spots. Upperside hindwing of summer form is mostly black with a short tail; that of winter form has much orange and a longer, violet-tipped tail. Underside is light brown; hindwing with pearly white question mark in center.

Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

918 Species Recorded in Illinois

100 Most Recent Sightings in Illinois

Visit the BAMONA Shop

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Illinois

American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

White-marked Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigma

Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis

White-marked Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigma

Leconte's Haploa
Haploa lecontei

Maple Callus Borer Moth
Synanthedon acerni

False Crocus Geometer
Xanthotype urticaria

Reversed Haploa
Haploa reversa

Silvery Checkerspot
Chlosyne nycteis

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Least Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitor

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia

Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis

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Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Butterflies and Moths of Illinois

918 Species Recorded in Illinois

100 Most Recent Sightings in Illinois

Please donate!

Advertise with us!

Most Recent Sightings in Illinois

American LadyVanessa virginiensis

Polyphemus mothAntheraea polyphemus

White-marked Tussock MothOrgyia leucostigma

Question MarkPolygonia interrogationis

White-marked Tussock MothOrgyia leucostigma

Leconte's HaploaHaploa lecontei

Maple Callus Borer MothSynanthedon acerni

False Crocus GeometerXanthotype urticaria

Reversed HaploaHaploa reversa

Silvery CheckerspotChlosyne nycteis

Great Spangled FritillarySpeyeria cybele

Least SkipperAncyloxypha numitor

MonarchDanaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger SwallowtailPapilio glaucus

Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta

Pearl CrescentPhyciodes tharos

Black SwallowtailPapilio polyxenes

Eastern Tailed-BlueCupido comyntas

Silver-spotted SkipperEpargyreus clarus

Cabbage WhitePieris rapae

Common BuckeyeJunonia coenia

Question MarkPolygonia interrogationis

American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

White-marked Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigma

Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis

White-marked Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigma

Leconte's Haploa
Haploa lecontei

Maple Callus Borer Moth
Synanthedon acerni

False Crocus Geometer
Xanthotype urticaria

Reversed Haploa
Haploa reversa

Silvery Checkerspot
Chlosyne nycteis

Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele

Least Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitor

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus

Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta

Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos

Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes

Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas

Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus

Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia

Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis