4 Common MOTHS in Alaska (2025)
What kinds of moths can you find in Alaska?
Many people find moths creepy, but they’re also fascinating! These winged insects vary in size, color, shape, and behavior.
There are at least 160,000 species of moths in the world! Since it would be impossible to list all of the ones in Alaska in this article, I chose the most common and exciting species to share with you today. 🙂
4 moths in Alaska:
#1. Hummingbird Clearwing
- Hemaris thysbe
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults have a wingspan of 1.6-2.2 in (4-5.6 cm).
- Their wings are transparent with a reddish-brown border.
- Their upper body is olive green with burgundy towards the rear, and their undersides are white or yellow.
- They have thick fur, long proboscises, thick antennae, and light-colored legs.
At first glance, it is easy to mistake these moths in Alaska for tiny hummingbirds!
Like hummingbirds, they can keep their bodies still while hovering to feed from flowers. Their transparent wings beat so fast that they’re nearly invisible, and they create a faint buzzing noise. Unlike most other moths, this species is most active during the daytime.
You can find these fascinating moths in forests, open areas, gardens, and suburban yards. The adult moths feed on nectar from a variety of flowers. Researchers have found that most Hummingbird Clearwings prefer pink or purple flowers. They’re a great species to consider if you’re planning a pollinator garden!
In northern climates, Hummingbird Clearwings generally only have one brood, but they may have two broods per season in warmer areas. The adult female moths lay green eggs on the underside of plant leaves which take about one week to hatch. The caterpillars spend about four weeks feeding before spinning a cocoon under the leaf litter. The last brood overwinters in this stage before emerging in the spring.
#2. Large Yellow Underwing
- Noctua pronuba
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1.57-2.36 in (4-6 cm).
- They have light or dark brown forewings with darker markings across them.
- Their hindwings are yellow-orange with a black band near the bottom edge.
These moths in Alaska might not have the most creative name, but it’s certainly accurate! At rest, their brown forewings usually cover their brightly colored hindwings, but you’ll see a flash of color when they take off! This flash helps to confuse and startle would-be predators.
You’re most likely to find Large Yellow Underwings in open or shrubby areas, but they are habitat generalists that can adapt to various conditions. For example, they’re happy in urban and suburban areas, fields, agricultural areas, yards, and parks. They’re mostly nocturnal and are attracted to outdoor lights. You may occasionally spot large groups of these moths around bright lights.
Large Yellow Underwings have a longer lifespan than many other moth species. In captivity, males live an average of 55 days, and females live about 75 days. Despite their long lifespan, they only have one new generation per year.
#3. Alfalfa Looper
- Autographa californica
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1.42-1.65 in (3.6-4.2 cm).
- Their forewings are mottled pale gray with a dark middle and a silvery white fish-hook-shaped spot. Their hindwings are pale gray by their body and fade to a darker, sooty gray or black.
- They have hairy bodies with a silvery sheen, and young individuals are sometimes purplish.
This moth can be tough to spot in Alaska!
Despite their shiny appearance, the Alfalfa Looper is an expert at hiding in open habitats. Their intricate patterns and grayish coloring help them blend with flowers, grasses, and trees. These moths are active day and night, feeding on the nectar from various low-growing plants. At night you may spot them around outdoor lights.
In southern areas, it’s common to see adult Alfalfa Loopers from February to November, but in northern regions, they’re generally only active between May and October. Alfalfa Loopers have several broods per year, depending on how long the warm season is.
Alfalfa Loopers have an incredibly short lifecycle. Newly laid eggs hatch in just three to five days. The caterpillars feed for about two weeks before creating cocoons and then emerge as adults in about seven days. They begin mating quickly after emerging, and females usually deposit eggs within three days. The entire brood can go from birth to death in as little as 30 days!
#4. Pale Beauty
- Campaea perlata
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adult wingspans are 1.1-2 in (2.8-5 cm).
- Their wings and body are pale green to grayish white but may fade to yellow as they age.
- The wings have faint, dark grayish lines accented with white.
These little moths may seem small and unassuming. However, their luster and pale green coloration set them apart from other moths in Alaska.
You’re most likely to spot Pale Beauties from late spring to early autumn, though they may only be active for a few weeks in cool weather. They’re readily attracted to outdoor lights. They inhabit deciduous woodlands and surrounding areas with plenty of available host plants.
Pale Beauties have one generation per year in the northern parts of their range and two in the south. They overwinter as caterpillars on their host trees. Once they mature, the caterpillars pupate. The pupae are reddish brown to black and easy to spot on bare winter trees.
Which of these moths have you seen in Alaska?
Leave a comment below!
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