Types of Moths & Butterflies: 7 Common Species
Wings covered in fine scales and a coiled, straw-like tongue. This guide covers the 7 moths & butterflies people find most often.
Quick list
How to narrow it down
Narrow it down with three quick checks. Count the legs: insects have six, spiders and ticks have eight, and centipedes and millipedes have many more. Check for wings, even folded ones. Then compare size against a coin: a US penny is 19 mm across. Our bug identifier tool does this filtering for you.
The 7 bugs
Cabbage White
Cabbage WhitePieris rapaeA small white butterfly with gray-black wing tips and one or two dark spots on each forewing. Its velvety green caterpillars chew holes in cabbage, broccoli and kale.
Tell-tale sign: White wings with charcoal forewing tips. Risk: Cabbage whites are harmless to people; caterpillars can riddle brassica crops with holes.
Indian Meal Moth
Indian Meal MothPlodia interpunctellaThe most common pantry moth, with wings that are pale gray near the body and coppery bronze at the tips. Larvae spin silk webbing in grains, nuts, cereal, birdseed and dried fruit.
Tell-tale sign: Two-toned wings, cream at the base and rusty bronze at the tips. Risk: Pantry moths don't bite and aren't toxic; infested food should be thrown away.
Spongy Moth
Spongy MothLymantria disparFormerly called the gypsy moth, an invasive moth whose hairy caterpillars strip the leaves from oaks and other hardwoods. Caterpillars carry paired blue and red dots along the back.
Tell-tale sign: Hairy caterpillars with five pairs of blue dots and six pairs of red dots. Risk: Caterpillar hairs can cause itchy rashes, and heavy outbreaks strip trees of their leaves.
Tomato Hornworm
Tomato HornwormManduca quinquemaculataA huge, bright green caterpillar with white V-shaped marks and a horn on its rear end. It can strip tomato, pepper and eggplant leaves overnight and later becomes a hawk moth.
Tell-tale sign: Plump green caterpillar up to four inches long. Risk: The horn is harmless; hornworms don't sting or bite.
Webbing Clothes Moth
Webbing Clothes MothTineola bisselliellaA small, golden-buff moth whose larvae eat wool, silk, fur, feathers and cashmere. Adults avoid light and are more often found in closets than flying around lamps.
Tell-tale sign: Small, shiny golden-tan wings without spots. Risk: Clothes moths don't bite people; larvae damage natural-fiber fabrics.
Luna Moth
Luna MothActias lunaA large, pale lime-green moth with long, sweeping tails on its hind wings. Adults don't eat and live only about a week to mate.
Tell-tale sign: Pale green wings with long, curved hindwing tails. Risk: Luna moths are completely harmless; adults have no functional mouthparts.
Monarch Butterfly
Monarch ButterflyDanaus plexippusAn orange butterfly with black veins and white-spotted borders, famous for its multigenerational migration to Mexico. Its caterpillars feed only on milkweed.
Tell-tale sign: Bright orange wings with thick black veins. Risk: Monarchs are harmless to people but toxic to birds that eat them.
Which ones should you worry about?
0 of the 7 bugs in this guide can bite or sting. None of them are considered medically significant. The rest are harmless or simply a nuisance.
Comparison at a glance
| Cabbage White | Indian Meal Moth | Spongy Moth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Moths & Butterflies | Moths & Butterflies | Moths & Butterflies |
| Scientific name | Pieris rapae | Plodia interpunctella | Lymantria dispar |
| Size | 32–47 mm | 8–10 mm | 35–65 mm |
| Colors | White | Tan, Brown and Red | Brown, Tan and White |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | No | No | No |
| Risk | Nuisance | Nuisance | Nuisance |
| Key feature | White wings with charcoal forewing tips | Two-toned wings, cream at the base and rusty bronze at the tips | Hairy caterpillars with five pairs of blue dots and six pairs of red dots |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common one?
Among the bugs in this guide, the cabbage white and Indian meal moth are the ones people ask about most.
Which of these are dangerous?
None of them are medically significant, though some can bite or sting.
How can I identify a bug I found?
Use the free bug identifier tool: choose the number of legs, wings, main color, size and where you found it, and it will list the closest matches.