16 Common MOTHS in South Dakota (2025)
What kinds of moths can you find in South Dakota?
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 South Dakota in this article, I chose the most common and exciting species to share with you today. 🙂
16 moths in South Dakota:
#1. Isabella Tiger Moth
- Pyrrharctia Isabella
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults have a wingspan of 1.75-2.5 in (4-6 cm).
- Their coloring is orange-yellow to yellowish-brown, with sparse black spotting on their wings, a line of black spots down their abdomen, bright orange forelegs, and small heads.
- Females’ hindwings are often pinkish or more brightly orange than males.
These moths in South Dakota adapt to a wide range of habitats.
Isabella Tiger Moths moths have an interesting lifecycle that allows them to thrive even in some of the world’s coldest regions like the Arctic! As caterpillars, their hearts stop beating, and they produce a cryoprotectant in their tissues, which allows them to survive winter and thaw out in the spring when temperatures rise.
Then, they build their cocoons and pupate into adult moths. Adult Isabella Tiger Moths emerge after about one month, only to mate, lay eggs, and die within days. The eggs hatch in two weeks, and the cycle begins again.
Like other Tiger Moths, they have a tymbal organ on their thorax that they can vibrate to make ultrasonic, high-frequency clicks. While we humans can’t hear them, these clicks serve as an important warning that they’re toxic to predators. Incredibly, researchers believe the clicks may also interfere with bats’ echolocation, helping these little moths stay safe as they fly through the night.
While you may not recognize the adult stage of the Isabella Tiger Moth, you probably know its caterpillar! They’re cute, fuzzy brown and black caterpillars, usually known as Wooly Bears. When they feel threatened, they roll into a ball to protect themselves.
According to urban legend, these caterpillars can predict the coming winter. Each of their 13 segments corresponds to the 13 weeks of winter. More orange bands mean a milder winter, while more black bands mean a snowier, harsher winter.
#2. Virginian Tiger Moth
- Spilosoma virginica
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1.25-2 in (3-5 cm).
- They have pure white wings marked with a few black dots.
- Their abdomens are white with stripes of yellow and rows of black dots, and males have large, feathery antennae.
You can find Virginian Tiger Moths in South Dakota in various habitats.
Look for them in hardwood forests, coastal rainforests, agricultural areas, grasslands, and urban areas. If you’re up late, you can probably find some flying around your porch light or another outdoor light source.
Finding mates can be tough, so Virginia Tiger Moths have developed unique communication methods. Females have a special organ that they use to emit a pheromone, and males are equipped with large, feather-like antennae that allow them to sense these chemicals.
The males spend their nights flying in zig-zag patterns in search of females until they pick up the pheromones. After mating, the male repeats the process, mating with as many females as possible. They tend to have multiple broods yearly, and the last brood will overwinter in the caterpillar stage.
#3. Milkweed Tussock Moth
- Euchaetes egle
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspansare 1.25-1.7 in (3-4.3 cm).
- They are mousy gray with a yellow abdomen with rows of black spots.
- Most adults have unmarked wings, but individuals occasionally have a faint, dark line.
Milkweed Tussock Moths may appear a bit drab in their adult form, but their caterpillars are anything but! They sport tufts of black, white, orange, and sometimes yellow hairs, making them easy to find among leaves.
These moths in South Dakota are clever at avoiding predators.
Like most members of the tiger moth family, Milkweed Tussock Moths store chemicals from the plants they eat in their bodies to make them toxic to predators. In the case of these moths, the chemicals help to deter bats. They use a high-frequency clicking produced by their tymbal organ to warn bats and other predators that they are toxic. Males also use their tymbal organs to attract females.
You’ll often see Monarch butterflies coexisting with Milkweed Tussock Moths in areas with lots of milkweed plants. These two species are happy to share, despite their voracious appetites! As native pollinators, they don’t harm the milkweed plants and instead help them spread.
#4. Polyphemus Moth
- Antheraea polyphemus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 4-6 in (10-15 cm).
- The upper surface of the wings is reddish-brown, gray, light brown, or yellow-brown, and each hindwing has a large yellow eyespot ringed with blue.
- They have hairy bodies, and the front wings have a smaller yellow spot.
Polyphemus Moths are easily recognized for their large, stunning eyespots. While we may find their pattern beautiful, predators find it frightening. The pattern on their upper wings resembles the face of a great horned owl. It helps to distract, confuse, and startle predators.
In South Dakota, you can find Polyphemus Moths in forests, orchards, wetlands, and urban areas. Even though they’re easily spotted, these beauties are short-lived. Polyphemus Moths have an extremely short lifespan as adults, living only about four days.
They emerge from the cocoon ready to mate, and females put out pheromones to attract males. The males use their large feathery antennae to smell the pheromones and locate females. They’re so intent on procreating that they don’t eat or even have a mouth!
#5. Banded Tussock Moth
- Halysidota tessellaris
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1.57-1.77 in (3.8-4.3 cm).
- They have yellow-tan to cream-colored wings with a distinctive checkered pattern.
- Their bodies have a wide pale orange stripe running down the middle with a thinner turquoise stripe on each side.
You’ll most likely find Banded Tussock Moths in South Dakota in deciduous forests. However, you may occasionally see them around outdoor lights near forested areas. They’re active from May through August.
Also known as the Pale Tiger Moth, these can be tough to identify! Banded Tussock Moths are nearly identical to Sycamore Tussock Moths; even experts can only tell them apart through dissection or DNA analysis.
Adult moths eat nectar from flowers, but their caterpillars eat various plants. They store chemicals from the plants they eat and pass them on to their adult form to protect themselves from predation.
#6. Green Cloverworm Moth
- Hypena scabra
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 0.98-1.38 in (2.5-3.5 cm).
- Their narrow forewings may be yellow, tan, or orange, with a black line running along the middle of both wings.
- They have thin antennae and long snouts.
Green Cloverworm Moths are unassuming, drab little moths that you’ll likely spot around outdoor lights. They inhabit gardens, fields, waste places, and woodland edges. Unfortunately, their larval form can cause quite a bit of damage to vegetables, so watch out for them if you’re a gardener!
They’re an incredibly prolific species that have multiple broods per year. You may find them flying year-round in warmer areas, but in northern climates, you’re most likely to find them between March and November. However, even in northern climates, you may spot a few adults flying on unusually warm days.
#7. American Dagger
- Acronicta americana
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 2-2.6 in (5-6.6 cm).
- Their wings and upper legs are covered in fine grayish-white hairs.
- They are black and white, with intricate patterns, including zig-zags, checkerboards, and lines.
American Daggers are the largest dagger moths in South Dakota.
Their name refers to the dagger-shaped markings on their forewings, but you may have to look very closely and use your imagination to see it!
Given their preference for deciduous trees, you’re most likely to find American Daggers and their caterpillars where their favorite foods are abundant, like deciduous forests, swampy areas, parks, backyards, and playgrounds.
In northern areas, American Daggers generally only have one brood per year. However, they may have two or three in southern regions. Look for the adult moths to be active between April and September and the caterpillar stage to be present between July and October.
#8. Fall Webworm Moth
- Hyphantria cunea
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1.4-1.7 in (3.5-4.3 cm).
- Their forewings may be completely white or have varying gray or black rectangular or wedge-shaped spots.
- They have a bright white hairy body and may have some orange markings on the body and legs.
The caterpillars of Fall Webworms are generalists known to feed on over 100 species of hardwood trees! They construct tents around the leaves at the tips of branches so that they remain sheltered while they eat. It also conserves heat and helps them avoid predators!
Depending on where you live, you may see these moths in South Dakota between April and September. In northern areas, Fall Webworm Moths have one brood per year but may have two or three broods in southern climates. Females deposit enormous egg masses, up to 1,500 iridescent green eggs, on the underside of the leaves. They die immediately after laying their eggs.
In the fall, the last brood overwinters in the pupa stage as a hard brown cocoon. This tough shell is made of woven silk and detritus, hidden in the leaf litter at the base of a tree. Once spring arrives, the metamorphosis into a moth continues.
#9. Yellow-collared Scape Moth
- Cisseps fulvicollis
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1-1.5 in (2.53.8 cm).
- They have black forewings and black or bluish-black bodies with an orange or yellow collar.
Yellow-collared Scape Moths are fairly common in South Dakota.
You can find them in wet meadows, parks, prairies, gardens, and forest edges. Adult moths are active during the day, so you have a very good chance of seeing them out and about!
These moths are well-known for being excellent pollinators. They visit and drink nectar from various flowers, including milkweed, asters, and goldenrod. Occasionally, they’re also active at night, and you may spot them around outdoor lights.
Their intense coloring is a defense mechanism known as wasp-mimicry. This threatening appearance helps scare off predators while they visit flowers during the day. It’s a clever way of saying, “Leave me alone!”
Adults are usually active between April and October. Depending on the regional climate, they might have one or up to three generations per breeding season. The last brood will overwinter in the larval stage as immature caterpillars in cocoons made primarily from their own body hairs.
#10. Io Moth
- Automeris io
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 2.5-3.5 in (6-8.9 cm).
- Males have bright yellow bodies and wings and large feathery antennae.
- Females have reddish-brown or purple bodies and forewings.
- Both sexes have one large black eyespot with a white center on each hindwing.
Io Moths are the most striking species in South Dakota!
When threatened, these large moths open their wings to expose their intense eyespots to distract and startle predators. This defense is often effective on people, too!
In northern areas, Io Moths are active in May and June. They have two to three broods in warm, southern areas, and you may see the adults between February and September. The adult moths are nocturnal, so you’re most likely to see them around outdoor lights at night. They have only vestigial mouthparts and don’t eat during their adult phase.
Io Moth caterpillars appear beautiful, but you should never handle them. At every stage, their body is surrounded by venomous, black-tipped spines that sting at the slightest touch. Young caterpillars are usually orange or yellowish but mature to a vibrant green with red and white stripes down each side. You can recognize them by their distinctive habit of moving in “trains,” one after the other.
#11. Salt Marsh Moth
- Estigmene acrea
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1.75-2.69 in (4.4-6.8 cm).
- Their forewings are white with black spots, and their hindwings are orange in males and white in females.
- They have a white head and thorax, and their abdomen is orange with a row of black spots.
Salt Marsh Moths have a terrible reputation in South Dakota!
Despite their pretty appearance, their caterpillars are agricultural pests that feed on several important crops. Farmers must protect corn, tomatoes, tobacco, cotton, cabbage, peas, carrots, beets, onions, beans, and apple, walnut, and cherry tree leaves. Keeping these moths away can be a full-time job!
Adults are active between May and August, though you might spot them year-round in the deep south. Salt Marsh Moths have one brood per year in the northern part of their range and up to four in the southern regions. Their caterpillars hatch from eggs and have the incredible ability to “windsurf!” If they sense a threat, they expel a strand of silk that acts as a parachute, and the wind propels them away from danger.
#12. White-lined Sphinx
- Hyles lineata
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 2-3 in (5-7.6 cm).
- They have a large, stout, furry brown body with six white stripes.
- Their forewings are olive-brown with thick tan stripes intersected by thin white stripes, while their hindwings are black and bright reddish-pink in the middle.
White-lined Sphinx Moths in South Dakota are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. They can rapidly beat their wings to hover at flowers and reach in to sip nectar with their long proboscis. Their favorite flowers include Cardinal Vine, Jimsonweed, Petunia, Phlox, Lilac, Hostas, Honeysuckles, Evening Primroses, and Penstemon.
In the spring, the females lay hundreds of eggs on host plants. Occasionally, explosive outbreaks of this species occur, and during these times, you might see large groups of caterpillars moving together. They have even been reported to cover entire sections of roadways!
These caterpillar migrations aren’t well understood, but they usually occur right before metamorphosis. Researchers believe that the caterpillars may be seeking looser soil or a better food selection.
The caterpillars pupate in burrows underground. Pupation takes about two to three weeks, and when they’re close to finished, they wiggle up closer to the surface of the soil before emerging as adult moths.
#13. Carolina Sphinx
- Manduca sexta
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 3.75-4.75 in (9.5-12 cm).
- Their large forewings have indistinct black, brown, and white markings, while their hindwings are banded with black and white.
- They have six pairs of yellow bands on their abdomens.
These relatively large moths are often called hawk moths. They’re known for their large forewings and ability to hover in front of flowers to feed on nectar. Carolina Sphinx Moths visit various flowers and prefer tubular blossoms that produce a lot of nectar.
While the adult moths are excellent pollinators, their caterpillars are a common pest. Gardeners and farmers will recognize them as Tobacco Hornworms, which feed on crops like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and tobacco. And they have a big appetite! Tobacco Hornworms can quickly defoliate plants and ruin crops.
In the warm, far southern parts of their range, Carolina Sphinx Moths may have several broods, and you can see adults throughout the year. In the cool parts of their range, you’ll only see adults between May and October, and they generally have just two broods.
Once the caterpillars are mature, they select a site to pupate and burrow into the leaf litter or soil. Depending on the time of year and brood, they may overwinter in their pupal stage. The adult moths are active at night and breed soon after emerging. The females can produce up to 1,000 eggs in their several weeks of life.
#14. 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 South Dakota!
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!
#15. Western Tent Caterpillar Moth
- Malacosoma californica
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm).
- Their wings are brown, tan, yellow, or gray, with two lines across their forewings.
- They have furry bodies.
Western Tent Caterpillar Moths in South Dakota have just one generation per year. In the fall, the females lay about 150 to 250 eggs in oval-shaped masses. They cover the eggs with spumaline, which helps hold in heat and absorbs rainwater to prevent the eggs from drying out. It also protects the eggs from parasitoid wasps.
Even though it only takes three to four weeks for the caterpillars to mature, they must overwinter in this stage before pupating into moths. Their name comes from the silken tent they create to protect themselves from extreme cold during this time.
These caterpillars have a voracious appetite and can quickly defoliate trees during a population outbreak. While it may be unsightly, the trees usually recover just fine. Interestingly, these caterpillars have regional tastes, and the specific trees they prefer are highly dependent on their location.
#16. Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth
- Malacosoma disstria
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults’ wingspans are 1-1.75 in (2.5-4.4 cm).
- Their wings are yellow, tan, or buff-brown, with two darker lines running parallel across their forewings, sometimes appearing to form a single dark band.
- They have stout, furry bodies.
The Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth is the most widely distributed tent caterpillar in South Dakota. Their populations fluctuate in cycles, so you may go years without seeing any and then see multiple in one season. Their populations reach outbreak proportions every 6-16 years and remain high for 4-6 years.
Adult Forest Tent Caterpillar Moths are active in July, don’t feed, and live for ten days. Especially in outbreak years, you might spot large groups clustered around outdoor lights.
Unlike other tent caterpillars, Forest Tent Caterpillars don’t spin true tents. Instead, they spin silk mats on the tree’s trunk or branches where they rest when they’re not feeding.
Which of these moths have you seen in South Dakota?
Leave a comment below!
If you enjoyed this article, make sure to check out these other guides!
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30 Common BIRDS in South Dakota! (ID Guide)
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15 Types of SPIDERS in South Dakota!
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13 Kinds of SNAKES That Live in South Dakota! (Includes venomous species)
