Green Pug Moth (Chloroclystis rectangulata)

Attracted to porch light July 29, 2011, Bedford, nova Scotia. About 2-3cm wide. Interesting color for a night creature.

Fingered Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Brown top and light brown underneath, long black lashes. Spotted spetember 27 in Waverly, Nova Scotia.

White Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Pretty common thought Halifax. Spotted this one September 3, 2011 near Jerry Lawrence Park, on BLT trails.

Laurel Sphinx Moth

Huge moth, about 5cm long. Spotted on backyard deck one night, July 22, 2011, Bedford, Nova Scotia.

Pink-Striped Oakworm Caterpillar Moth (Anisota virginiensis)

Was about 5cm long, hairless, light brown stripes, small spikes on tail and two long spines on the mesothorax that look like antanae.

Seen August 21, 2011 in Tantallon along the Rails to Trails near Bike & Bean coffee shop. I think it's uncommon to be seen in Nova Scotia.

Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes tharos)

Probably the most common butterfly I see starting in July. Orange and black, about 3cm wingspan and often seen in large numbers in meadows and grasslands, doesn't mind posing for cameras.
Genus: Phyciodes Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae

Northern Pearly-Eye (Enodia anthedon)

Medium sized butterfly, about 4cm wingspan. Spotted July 2011, Bell Park near Uniake Estate.

Genus: Enodia Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae

Rosy Maple Moth Caterpillar

5 cm long green caterpillar with small back spikes and Pinkish/red near tail end.

Hobomok Skipper

The Hobomok Skipper is a butterfly, not a moth, apparently the antennae are the indicators, they have clubs at the end and a small hook indicates a skipper.

Saw this little fast moving butterfly in a grassy meadow in Windsor Junction, NS, July 5, 2011.


Genus: Poanes Order: Lepidoptera Family: Hesperiidae

Great Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Dark yellow or brownish long hairy caterpillar. About 4 cm long. Known as Garden Tiger moth in Europe. Saw this one June 20, 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 


Genus: Arctia Order: Lepidoptera Family: Arctiidae

Small Cabbage White Caterpillar

There's a large and small cabbage butterfly and they look totally different. Other picture normally have yellow streak on side and top, in this picture its more orange and white along side. About 3cm long

Salt marsh caterpillar (Estigmene acrea)

Orange brown furry caterpillar about 4cm long, spotted at Cole Harbour Heritage Park September 20, 2010. The area has salt marshes so the name seems correct, hard to tell the difference with a Yellow Bear (Spilosoma virginica) Virginian Tiger caterpillar.

Spotted Apatelodes Caterpillar (Apatelodes torrefacta)

Hard to miss this bright  furry yellow caterpillar, about 5cm long. A few long black lashes on the back and rear make it another unique caterpillar. The Spotted Apatelodes is an uncommon moth for this part of Canada, north eastern USA is more typical.
Spotted September 14, 2010, Cole Harbour Heritage Trail.

Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris diffinis)

Saw a few of them in a small meadow July 2010, next to Long Lake in Halifax. They did not mind my presense, I filmed them even for a youtube video as they were content to stay in the area feeding on these purple flowers.

Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus)

Seen at Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, Greenwing Centre marshland. It's been called a 'mimic' of the Monarch as its very close resemblance with organge and black color pattern. The black stripe through the bottom wing is the main difference.

Cecropia Caterpillar (Hyalophora cecopia)

Spotted this Cecropia Caterpillar in Windsor Junction, August 17, 2010. It was huge, about 7cm long. Pretty rare moth, never seen it before

Welcome to Nova Scotia Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars

I'ld like to share my sightings from hikes in Nova Scotia for enjoyment, education and conservation purposes.

Comments are welcomed and your own sightings can be published at http://www.junponline.com/ , a websight I manage which documents all wildlife sightings from all over the world in a public database.