Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Oklahoma

Butterflies and moths have always been the most popular group of insects among amateur collectors due to their size, abundance and brilliant colors. Many species are economically important and have been studied for this reason. The butterflies and larger moths are usually the best known of all the invertebrate groups. There are about 146,000 described species of Lepidoptera in the world. Nearly 11,500 of these are found in North America. There are 760 species of skippers, about 5,000 species of larger moths and over 5,500 species of micro moths.

 

The following list is a work in progress. Records for most families of small moths will be based mostly on the OSU Collection and will be quite incomplete.

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Checklist and Bibliography of Oklahoma Lepidoptera

• Acrolophidae - tube moths
• Arctiidae - tiger moths
• Attevidae - tropical ermine moths
• Bucculatricidae - ribbed-cocoon maker moths
• Cosmopterigidae - cosmet moths
• Cossidae - carpenter moths
• Drepanidae - hook-tip moths
• Gelechiidae - twirler moths
• Geometridae - geometer moths
• Gracillariidae - leafminer moths
• Hesperiidae - skippers
• Lasiocampidae - lappet moths, tent caterpillars
• Limacodidae - slug caterpillar moths
• Lycaenidae - coppers, hairstreaks, blues, harvesters
• Lymantriidae - tussock moths
• Lyonetiidae - lyonet moths
• Megalopygidae - flannel moths
• Mimallonidae - sackbearer moths
• Noctuidae - owlet moths
• Notodontidae - prominents
• Nymphalidae - brush-footed butterflies
• Oecophoridae - concealer moths
• Papilionidae - swallowtails, parnassians
• Pieridae - whites, sulphurs, orange-tips
• Plutellidae - diamondback moths
• Prodoxidae - yucca moths
• Psychidae - bagworms
• Pterophoridae - plume moths
• Pyralidae - snout moths
• Riodinidae - metalmarks
• Saturniidae - giant silkworm moths
• Scythrididae - flower moths
• Sesiidae - clearwing moths
• Sphingidae - sphinx, hawk moths
• Thyrididae - window-winged moths
• Tineidae - clothes moths
• Tortricidae - leafroller moths
• Urodidae - false burnet moths
• Zygaenidae - smoky moths

 

Corrections, additions or comments would be very welcome, please contact us!