There was a flurry of press earlier this month on a new insect being found in Minnesota, purple carrot-seed moth. As this pest can be a problem when saving seeds, let’s take a minute to learn about this insect now that the end of the gardening season is on the horizon.
Purple moths are some of the most visually striking insects in nature. While they are relatively uncommon compared to other moth species, these vividly-colored moths stand out with their brilliant hues of purple, violet, and lavender
In this article we will explore 19 of the most fascinating purple moths found around the world. We will look at their key identification features, geographic locations and interesting facts about these insects’ life cycles and behaviors.
An Overview of Purple Moths
Purple moths belong to the insect order Lepidoptera, along with butterflies. There are over 160,000 species of moths in the world, but only a small fraction display shades of purple.
These purple hues are produced by specialized scales on the moths’ wings that reflect light to create vibrant, saturated colors. The scales come in a variety of shapes and sizes that scatter light in different ways to produce these unique purple tones.
Purple moths exhibit a high degree of sexual dimorphism Females and males often look completely different in terms of their coloration Females tend to be less vividly-colored, with more camouflaged brown or grey wings. Males sport more flamboyant purple hues to attract mates.
These insects are found on every continent except Antarctica. Most purple moth species live in tropical or temperate forests and grasslands. They are predominantly active at night, when their jewel-toned wings are less visible to predators.
Now let’s look at 19 specific purple moths and what makes them so fascinating!
1. Purple Shot Copper
Scientific Name: Lycaena alciphron
Locations: Europe, Morocco, Turkey
The purple shot copper exhibits striking sexual dimorphism. Males have vibrant purple upper wings while females are mostly brown with black spots. Both sexes have eye-catching orange underwings dotted with black.
These day-flying butterflies live at elevations between 500-900 meters in meadows and open woodlands. Their caterpillars feed on various pea plants.
2. Granny’s Cloak Moth
Scientific Name: Speiredonia spectans
Location: Northeast Australia, Tasmania
The Granny’s cloak moth has subtle purple iridescence on its brown forewings. The scales reflect light at specific angles to produce a purple sheen. Their hindwings are orange with black dots that resemble large intimidating eyes, a defensive technique called mimicry.
These nocturnal moths inhabit eucalyptus forests. Their caterpillars feed on gum leaves and have protective mirror-like plates on their backs.
3. Lily Caterpillar Moth
Scientific Name: Polytela gloriosae
Locations: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia
This aptly named moth has a caterpillar stage adorned in vibrant purple, pink, yellow, and green hues. The adult moth has mottled brown, white, and black wings.
These moths likely developed their bright larval colors as a warning signal, advertising that they are toxic or distasteful to predators. Their caterpillars feed on plants like ginger.
4. Southern Purple Mint Moth
Scientific Name: Pyrausta laticlavia
Location: United States
This small moth has reddish-purple forewings bordered with yellow bands. They are closely associated with mint plants; their caterpillars feed on leaves of plants like rosemary. This host plant may provide pigments that contribute to the moths’ distinctive coloring.
5. Elephant Hawk-moth
Scientific Name: Deilephila elpenor
Locations: Europe, Western North America
This large moth has olive-brown wings trimmed in a pinkish hue that can appear purple in flight. They have excellent color vision and can see reddish flowers and other objects even in low light. This helps them find nectar-rich blooms at night.
6. Inornate Pyrausta Moth
Scientific Name: Pyrausta inornatalis
Location: United States
This tiny moth is easily recognized by its uniform vinous (red wine-colored) forewings. They have a subtle purple iridescence in sunlight. Their caterpillars feed on plants like purple sage.
7. Common Crimson-and-Gold Moth
Scientific Name: Pyrausta purpuralis
Locations: Western Europe, Finland
As the name suggests, this moth has vivid crimson-purple forewings marked with metallic gold spots and bands. They are closely associated with mints, thyme, rosemary and other herbs that may influence their unique coloration.
8. Volupial Mint Moth
Scientific Name: Pyrausta volupialis
Locations: North America
This tiny moth lives up to its name, commonly residing around mint fields. It has striking dark purple forewings decorated with slim yellow lines. Like other pyrausta moths, it likely gains its vivid colors from compounds in its minty habitat.
9. Purple-barred Yellow
Scientific Name: Lythria purpuraria
Locations: Europe, Western Asia
This slender moth is essentially a master of disguise. Its greenish-yellow forewings are crossed by two vibrant purple bars, artfully resembling a dried leaf. This provides excellent camouflage from predators when at rest.
10. Raspberry Pyrausta Moth
Scientific Name: Pyrausta signatalis
Locations: North America
The bright pinkish-purple forewings of this moth are marked with distinctive white bands. As a mint-loving pyrausta moth, it likely derives its vivid coloring from compounds in its host plants, like Monarda and other wild mints.
11. Oak Lantern Moth
Scientific Name: Carcina quercana
Locations: Europe, North America
While not purely purple, this moth has subtle violet-purple tinged forewings marked with yellow blotches. As the name suggests, their caterpillars feed on oak leaves, which may provide pigments for the moths’ coloration.
12. Pink-striped Oakworm Moth
Scientific Name: Anisota virginiensis
Locations: Eastern North America
The females of this species have especially stunning reddish-purple forewings bisected by a vivid pink stripe. As caterpillars they are major pests of oak, maple, and other trees, sometimes completely defoliating branches.
13. Western Sheep Moth
Scientific Name: Hemileuca eglanterina
Locations: Western North America
The woolly caterpillars of this species are covered in long black or purple bristles. The adult moth has pale grey wings dusted with purple scales. They inhabit meadows, where their larvae feed on plant like lilac.
14. Ernestine’s Moth
Scientific Name: Phytometra ernestinana
Locations: North America
This large, distinctively-marked moth has bold purple stripes on its yellow-tan forewings. It lives in diverse habitats from marshes to pine woods. Their caterpillars feed on plants including primroses and loosestrifes.
15. Mint-loving Pyrausta Moth
Scientific Name: Pyrausta acrionalis
Location: Eastern North America
This aptly-named moth bears deep violet forewings bordered in yellow. As a pyrausta moth, it feeds on the leaves of mints during its larval stage, which likely influences its vivid coloration.
16. Purple Fairy Moth
Scientific Name: Adela purpurea
Locations: North America, Canada
Several parts of this tiny moth display varying hues of purple, from its head to wings to abdomen. They inhabit moist forests, where their larvae feed on plants including willows. Interacting with purple blooms may have led to their own coloration.
17. Rosy Maple Moth
Scientific Name: Dryocampa rubicunda
Locations: North America
While extremely variable in color, this fuzzy-bodied moth often displays vibrant pink or purple hues on its forewings. Its caterpillars are decorated in neon greens and oranges to warn predators of their toxicity.
18. Purple Thorn
Scientific Name: Selenia tetralunaria
Locations: Europe, Western Asia
This aptly-named moth has purple flushed forewings marked with a stark white comma shape. They inhabit deciduous broadleaf woods, where their spiky caterpillars feed on a variety of trees and shrubs.
19. Fairy Longhorn Moth
Scientific Name: Adela trigrapha
Locations: Western North America
The males of this species have extremely long, feathery antennae to detect female pheromones. Their hindwings are partially purple, contrasting with metallic blue forewings marked in white. Their larvae feed on clovers and vetches.
What makes an insect invasive?
Non-native insects are discovered in Minnesota every year. Some have little impact and just become background noise, while others become huge problems.
For an insect to be considered invasive, it has to check two boxes:
- Not native to Minnesota
- Does economic, environmental, or human health harm
How much will purple carrot-seed moth matter in Minnesota? We will see. Reporting this insect can help us figure that out.
What is purple carrot-seed moth?
Purple carrot-seed moths are small, generic moths native to Europe and Asia. The immature caterpillar life stage feeds on seeds and flowers of plants in the family Apiaceae, which includes herbs and vegetables like carrots, celery, parsley, cilantro, dill and fennel. They were first reported in the U.S. in 2008, and have been found in neighboring Midwestern states in recent years. They were first reported in Minnesota (Washington County) earlier this summer.
The small caterpillars (1/4 inch) feed on flowers. They also may group together a couple of small flowers in silk webbing. The silky clumps of flowers are often more obvious than the caterpillars or feeding themselves.
Cape Fear Gardening: Dealing with southern purple mint moths
FAQ
Are there any purple moths?
The purple carrot-seed moth was first discovered in North America in 2008. It has been documented in southern Canada, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
Why is the Atlas moth illegal?
Atlas Moths: What You Need to Know
Regardless of where they came from, they are federally quarantined pests, meaning it’s illegal to obtain, harbor, rear or sell them without a permit.
Are purple luna moths real?
Here is what I learned: The luna moth has a wingspan up to 4.5 inches. Female moths have slender antennae, while in males, the antannae fan out. At night, luna moths become active as they mate; females lay batches of 200 eggs on the undersides of leaves.
Are cinnabar moths harmful?
Cinnabar moths start life as yellow and black caterpillars and are particularly fond of munching on ragwort plants. Their bright colours warn predators that they’re poisonous, but they only build up their poison after feeding on the ragwort.
What moth has dark purple coloring?
A small species of moth with dark purple coloring is the Volupial Mint Moth (Pyrausta volupialis). This is a species often found around various types of wild and cultivated mint, as its name implies. Dark purple coloring with faint slim yellow lines is specific to its forewings. Its body also shows a combination of purple and yellow colors.
What is a dark purple mint moth?
Volupial Mint Moth A small species of moth with dark purple coloring is the Volupial Mint Moth (Pyrausta volupialis). This is a species often found around various types of wild and cultivated mint, as its name implies. Dark purple coloring with faint slim yellow lines is specific to its forewings.
What is the purple thorn moth?
The purple thorn moth, also known as Eudryas grata, is one of the coolest colored moths due to its purplish-brown wings, eye-like markings, and intricate patterns. It is identified by the angular margins along the wing edges and has a wingspan of 2” (5 cm).
Are there purple moths in the United States?
The United States is one of the countries where purple moths are still present in high numbers. Moths may be typically partly purple. This color might also be representative of the caterpillar stages, as well as purple, which is specific in all life cycles for some species. Here are some of the most common purple moths around the world. 1.
Why do moths have purple wings?
The purple hue is a result of the interaction of light with specialized scales present on their wings. Female moths have brown upper wings adorned with black spots. Both males and females have submarginal spots on their rear wings creating an even vibrant appearance.
What does a purple-shot copper moth look like?
Purple-shot copper exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in terms of wing coloration. Males boast the vibrant purple upper wing surface, females have a completely different appearance. The purple hue is a result of the interaction of light with specialized scales present on their wings. Female moths have brown upper wings adorned with black spots.