Lintneria is a genus of sphinx moths (Sphingidae) established by Butler in 1876. Species in this genus are medium to large-sized hawkmoths found primarily in the Americas. The genus was historically merged with Sphinx but was reinstated as distinct based on morphological and molecular evidence. Lintneria species are characterized by specific wing venation patterns and genitalic structures that separate them from closely related genera.
Lioptilodes is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by Zimmerman in 1958. These moths are characterized by their distinctive wing structure, with wings divided into feathery plumes typical of the family. The genus is primarily distributed in the Neotropical region.
Graceful Slug Moth
Lithacodes gracea, known as the graceful slug moth, is a species of slug caterpillar moth described by Harrison G. Dyar in 1921. It belongs to the family Limacodidae, a group characterized by caterpillars with reduced prolegs that move with a slug-like gliding motion rather than crawling. The species is recognized by MONA/Hodges number 4664. Like other limacodids, it is presumed to have stinging or irritating setae in the larval stage, though specific documentation for this species is limited.
Lithacodia undescribed refers to a species within the genus Lithacodia (family Noctuidae, subfamily Eustrotiinae) that has not yet been formally described and named in the scientific literature. The genus Lithacodia comprises small moths commonly known as bird-dropping moths due to their cryptic coloration. Undescribed species in this genus are known from various regions, particularly in North America and other parts of the world, where they await taxonomic study and formal description. These moths are typically nocturnal and exhibit the characteristic wing patterns and body morphology of the genus.
Amanda's Pinion
Lithophane amanda, commonly known as Amanda's Pinion, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was first described by Smith in 1900 under the basionym Xylina amanda. The species is found in North America, with confirmed records from Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States (Vermont). The MONA or Hodges number for this species is 9891. It is one of approximately 256 observation records on iNaturalist, indicating it is documented but not among the most commonly observed noctuid moths.
Cypress Pinions
Lithophane gausapata, commonly called Cypress Pinions, is a noctuid moth described by Grote in 1883. It belongs to the genus Lithophane, a group of cutworm moths often associated with coniferous forests. The species is found in North America and is part of the subfamily Noctuinae.
Lemmer's Pinion, Lemmer's noctuid moth
Lithophane lemmeri is a noctuid moth native to eastern North America, first described in 1929. It is listed as a species of special concern in Connecticut, reflecting its limited distribution and potential vulnerability. The species is associated with coniferous host plants and has a relatively narrow flight period in early summer.
Pine Pinions
Lithophane lepida is a noctuid moth species described by Grote in 1878. It belongs to the genus Lithophane, commonly known as the pinion moths. The species occurs in North America. Limited detailed biological information is available for this specific species in the provided sources.
Lithophane ponderosa is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Troubridge and Lafontaine in 2003. The species is found in North America and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9924.1. Like other members of the genus Lithophane, it belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae and tribe Xylenini.
luke-warm pinion moth
Lithophane tepida is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and presumably the United States. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9909. It belongs to the genus Lithophane, which includes other 'pinion' moths.
lichen moths
Lithosiina is a subtribe of lichen moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Gustaf Johan Billberg in 1820. Members are commonly known as lichen moths due to their cryptic coloration. The subtribe was previously classified as the tribe Lithosiini within the subfamily Lithosiinae of the family Arctiidae, reflecting ongoing taxonomic revisions in the tiger moth group. It is a well-documented group with over 130,000 observations on iNaturalist.
Lichen Moths
Lithosiini is a tribe of lichen moths within the family Erebidae, containing approximately 2,752 species. The taxon was originally described by Gustaf Johan Billberg in 1820 as Lithosiinae at subfamily rank, but was reclassified to tribe status following the reorganization of the former family Arctiidae into the subfamily Arctiinae within Erebidae. Members are commonly known as lichen moths due to their typical cryptic coloration resembling lichen substrates. The tribe is divided into multiple subtribes, though the systematics remain in need of revision.
Lithostege is a species-rich genus of geometrid moths in the subfamily Larentiinae, containing approximately 53 described species worldwide. The genus was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1825 and exhibits a predominantly Palaearctic distribution, with species recorded across Europe, Asia, and North America. African occurrences are limited to northern Palaearctic regions. The genus is taxonomically well-studied, with recent revisions adding new species from Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and China.
Lithostege rotundata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae, subfamily Larentiinae. It was described by Packard in 1874 and is native to North America. As a member of the Geometridae family, it belongs to a large and diverse group of moths commonly known as geometer moths or inchworms, recognized for their characteristic larval locomotion.
Litoprosopus confligens is a species of owlet moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in North America. The species has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 8559. Very little specific information is available for this species compared to its congener Litoprosopus coachella, which is well-documented as a palm-associated pest in the southwestern United States.
Lophocampa is a genus of arctiine tussock moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. The genus contains approximately 75 species distributed primarily in North America. Larvae are commonly known as tussock moths and typically exhibit gregarious behavior, forming aggregated colonies on host trees. Several species are notable for their distinctive larval coloration with tufts of hair-like setae.
Lophocampa pura is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Berthold Neumoegen in 1882. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with documented records from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and adjacent Mexican states. As a member of the genus Lophocampa, it belongs to a group commonly known as tussock moths, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Rosy Aemilia
Lophocampa roseata, commonly known as the rosy aemilia, is a small moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1866. The species is restricted to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, where it inhabits coniferous forests and has adapted to urban environments. The forewings measure 14–15 mm in length. Larvae have been successfully reared on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), indicating a host relationship with this conifer species.
Lotisma is a genus of moths in the family Copromorphidae, established by August Busck in 1909. The genus contains two described species: Lotisma trigonana, described by Walsingham in 1879 and originally placed in Sciaphila, and Lotisma vulcanica, described by Meyrick in 1932. Members of this genus belong to the superfamily Carposinoidea, a group of small moths often associated with fruit-feeding habits in related taxa.
Loxomorpha is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae (order Lepidoptera). The genus contains at least four recognized species, including L. flavidissimalis, a known pest of cultivated cactus. The genus was established by Hoshide in 1988, though Amsel (1956) is also cited as an authority. Species in this genus are distributed in the Americas, with records from North America to Mexico.
Cactus Webworm
Loxomorpha flavidissimalis, commonly known as the Cactus Webworm, is a moth species in the family Crambidae. First described by Grote in 1878, it is distributed across the southern United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and has been introduced to Australia. The species is notable for its specialized association with Opuntia cacti, with larvae feeding internally on host tissues. It has potential economic significance as a pest of cultivated cactus crops.
webworms, meadow moths
Loxostege is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, commonly known as webworms or meadow moths. The genus includes economically significant agricultural pests, particularly L. sticticalis (beet webworm/meadow moth), which is a polyphagous species causing substantial crop damage across North America, Europe, and Asia. Species in this genus exhibit complex life histories including larval diapause, long-distance migration capabilities, and high reproductive potential. Many species are characterized by outbreak dynamics with cyclic population explosions.
alfalfa webworm
Loxostege commixtalis, commonly known as the alfalfa webworm, is a crambid moth species described by Francis Walker in 1866. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. In North America, it ranges from the Atlantic provinces to the Yukon, while in Europe it occurs in Fennoscandia, Estonia, and northern Russia. Recent records document its first occurrence in the Eastern Palearctic (South-Eastern Transbaikalia and Amur Uplands). The species is a documented host for the parasitoid wasp Bracon vulgaris. Its larvae feed on succulent plants including alfalfa and sugar beet.
Loxostege indentalis is a crambid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. The species is native to western North America, with documented records from six U.S. states. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 35 mm and are active from spring through late summer. The genus Loxostege includes several species of webworm moths, some of which are significant agricultural pests, though specific economic impacts of L. indentalis have not been documented.
A small moth in the family Crambidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1917. It inhabits short grass prairie ecosystems across western North America, with adults active in spring and early autumn. The species is recorded from seven U.S. states and one Canadian province.
Lozotaenia is a genus of tortricid moths in the tribe Archipini, established by Stephens in 1829. The genus was recently discovered in Taiwan with the description of Lozotaenia xiaofengkouensis Lu & Hsu sp. nov. Most species are found in the Palearctic region, particularly northern Europe. The genus comprises small to medium-sized moths with characteristic tortricid wing patterns and resting posture.
Lozotaenia exomilana is a small tortricid moth described by Franclemont in 1986. It is known from a limited geographic range in the eastern United States, specifically North Carolina and Virginia. The species has a wingspan of 11–13 mm and adults are active during the summer months.
Lozotaenia hesperia is a small tortricid moth described by Powell in 1962. It occurs in boreal and subarctic regions of North America, with records from Alaska and Yukon in the northwest through the Prairie Provinces to Quebec in the east. Adults are active during a brief period in mid-summer. The species is one of approximately 25 recognized species in the genus Lozotaenia, which is distributed primarily across the Holarctic region.
Lustrous Copper
Lycaena cupreus, commonly known as the Lustrous Copper, is a butterfly species in the family Lycaenidae native to the western mountains of North America. The species was first described by Edwards in 1870 under the basionym Chrysophanus cupreus. It belongs to a genus of copper butterflies that are frequently used as indicators of environmental change and habitat quality. The Lustrous Copper is part of the diverse Lycaena genus, which includes species showing varying population trends in response to climate change and land use pressures.
A subspecies of copper butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Originally described by Reakirt in 1866 under the name Lycaena dorcas castro, this taxon is now treated as a synonym of Epidemia dorcas. The name reflects 19th-century North American lepidopteran taxonomy.
Clayton's Copper
Lycaena dorcas claytoni is a subspecies of copper butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It belongs to the dorcas copper complex, a group of closely related taxa distributed across North America. The subspecies was described by A.E. Brower in 1940. Like other members of the genus Epidemia (formerly placed in Lycaena), this taxon is associated with wetland habitats and larval host plants in the genus Polygonum.
Lycaena dorcas dorcas is a subspecies of copper butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The species is currently classified under the genus Epidemia, though historically treated under Lycaena. The subspecies is part of a taxon with a complex taxonomic history involving multiple genus-level reassignments.
Ruddy Copper
Lycaena rubida, the Ruddy Copper, is a North American butterfly species in the family Lycaenidae. It belongs to a genus whose members are commonly known as coppers, characterized by orange-copper coloration on the upper wing surfaces. The species inhabits western North America, where it is associated with grassland and open habitats. Like other Lycaena species, it has been affected by broader population declines documented across western North American butterfly faunas.
gossamer-winged butterflies, blues, coppers, hairstreaks, harvesters
Lycaenidae is the second-largest butterfly family worldwide, comprising over 6,000 species that constitute approximately 30% of known butterfly diversity. Members are commonly called gossamer-winged butterflies, blues, coppers, hairstreaks, or harvesters depending on subfamily. The family is distinguished by intimate ecological associations with ants, with roughly 75% of species exhibiting myrmecophily—relationships ranging from mutualistic to parasitic.
Coppers
Lycaeninae, commonly known as the coppers, is a subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies within the family Lycaenidae. The group is taxonomically fluid, with boundaries historically expanded to include Polyommatinae (blues) and Theclinae (hairstreaks), but is now generally restricted to the immediate relatives of the type genus Lycaena. The subfamily contains two recognized tribes: Heliophorini (sapphires) and Lycaenini (typical coppers). Many genera remain of uncertain placement, and the group's systematics continue to be refined.
Woolly Gray Moth, woolly gray
Lycia ypsilon, commonly known as the woolly gray moth, is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in North America. The species has two recognized subspecies: L. y. ypsilon and L. y. carlotta. It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 6652, a standard identifier used in North American moth classification.
black-and-yellow lichen moths
Lycomorpha is a genus of lichen moths in the family Erebidae, established by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839. The genus comprises six described species distributed primarily in North America, with some species extending into the Neotropics. Members are known for their striking black-and-yellow or black-and-orange coloration and their participation in Müllerian mimicry complexes with net-winged beetles (family Lycidae). The best-studied species, L. pholus, is exclusively diurnal and retains functional hearing despite isolation from bat predation.
Lycomorphodes is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, tribe Lithosiini. It was established by Hampson in 1900 and contains approximately 21 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The genus is classified within the subfamily Arctiinae (tiger moths and allies).
Lycorina is the sole genus of the monotypic subfamily Lycorininae, a group of ichneumon wasps containing approximately 30 species. These wasps are koinobiont parasitoids of larval Lepidoptera that inhabit leaf rolls. The genus has a worldwide distribution with documented species in the Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Nearctic regions. Historically, Lycorininae was treated as part of the subfamily Banchinae in older taxonomic literature.
Lyonetia latistrigella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Lyonetiidae. The species has been documented primarily through limited observations, with 49 records on iNaturalist. Its taxonomic status has been subject to revision, with some sources listing it as a synonym while GBIF recognizes it as accepted. Detailed biological information remains sparse in available literature.
Macalla is a genus of pyralid moths in the subfamily Epipaschiinae, established by Walker in 1859. The genus includes species whose larvae are known to feed on mahogany (Swietenia) and related plants, with Macalla thyrsisalis (mahogany webworm) being the most documented species due to its economic importance as a pest of West Indies mahogany. Adult moths are nocturnal and attracted to light. The genus is part of the diverse snout moth family Pyralidae, which contains many economically significant agricultural and forestry pests.
bicolored angle, Southern Pine and Cypress Angles
Macaria bicolorata, commonly known as the bicolored angle, is a geometrid moth native to Eastern North America. Adults are active from May through August, with timing varying by location. The species has a wingspan of approximately 30 mm. Larvae feed on Pinus species, establishing a specific host relationship with conifers.
Lorquin's Angle
Macaria lorquinaria is a species of geometrid moth commonly known as Lorquin's Angle. It belongs to the diverse family Geometridae, known for their characteristic resting posture with wings held flat. The species was first described by Guenée in 1858. Based on iNaturalist observations, it appears to be a relatively well-documented species with over 360 records.
Macaria simplex is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae, described by Dyar in 1907. It belongs to the subfamily Ennominae, a diverse group commonly known as carpet moths or loopers. The genus Macaria contains numerous North American species, many of which are associated with coniferous and deciduous forests. Specific ecological and biological details for M. simplex remain poorly documented in available literature.
Two-striped Owlet, Two-striped Snout-moth
Macrochilo bivittata is a litter moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1877. The species is known by two common names: Two-striped Owlet and Two-striped Snout-moth. It is distributed across the parklands and southern boreal forest of North America, from the Atlantic coast west to central Alberta.
Macroglossine Sphinx Moths
Macroglossinae is a subfamily of sphinx moths (Sphingidae) comprising three tribes: Dilophonotini, Macroglossini, and Philampelini. Members of this subfamily are characterized by their streamlined bodies and often exhibit specialized feeding behaviors. The subfamily includes diverse species with varying geographic distributions, from the Western Palaearctic to the Neotropics. Some species have been subjects of detailed phylogeographic and taxonomic study due to complex species boundaries and morphological variability.
iris borer, Iris Borer Moth
Macronoctua onusta, commonly called the iris borer, is a noctuid moth native to North America. Adults are large, dull brown moths with distinctive smoky dark gray patterning and a uniquely shaped reniform spot. The species is a foodplant specialist whose larvae bore into the rhizomes of iris plants, making it a notable pest in gardens and horticulture. Adults fly in autumn, primarily September and October.
Maliattha is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Eustrotiinae, established by Francis Walker in 1863. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features including upturned palpi that reach above the vertex of the head, with the second joint bearing long hair below and the third joint prominent. Males possess minutely ciliated antennae. The thorax is roughly scaled but lacks tufts, while the abdomen has strong dorsal tufts and is shorter than the hindwings. The narrow forewings and stalked veins 3 and 4 on the hindwings are additional diagnostic features. Larvae possess four pairs of abdominal prolegs.
Manulea bicolor is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1864. It belongs to the tribe Lithosiini, a group commonly known as footman moths. The species is recognized as valid and accepted in taxonomic databases. Distribution records indicate presence in the United States, specifically Vermont.
Marasmarchini is a tribe of plume moths within the subfamily Pterophorinae, family Pterophoridae. Members of this tribe are characterized by their distinctive wing morphology, with wings divided into plume-like lobes. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed across various regions. These moths are generally small with slender bodies and elongated legs.