Adult members of the Hesperiidae family are called skippers and duskywings when adults. More than 30 species live in Vermont, including members of the genera Erynnis, Hesperia, Polites, Poanes and Euphyes. Papilionidae, which are commonly called swallowtail when adults, have five species living in Vermont. Caterpillars of the black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) are light-green with black stripes and orange spots. They attack citrus trees, among other crops. The family Limacodidae has only one species living in Vermont. The spiny oak slug (Euclea delphinii) is colorful and hairy, attacking various shrubs and trees, such as apple trees, oaks and willows.
Pieridae living in Vermont include the mustard white (Pieris oleracea), which attacks plants of the mustard family; the orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme), which are very destructive in alfalfa plantations; and the little yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), which attacks plants of the pea family when in the caterpillar stage. Lycaenidae caterpillars, which are called gossamer-wing butterflies when adults, are common in Vermont, with 19 species, including Feniseca tarquinius, the only carnivorous caterpillar found in the United States. This species feeds mainly on treehoppers, aphids and other insects. Erebidae has only one species living in Vermont: Ascalapha odorata, which is a parasite to cassia and catclaw plants.
Nymphalidae is a numerous family in Vermont, with more than 35 species. These caterpillars develop into brush-footed butterflies such as the monarch, the red admiral and the American snout. Also called wild silk moths when adults, Saturniidae caterpillars feed on a variety of trees, such as walnuts, birches, ashes, oaks and fruit trees. Seven species live in Vermont, including Eacles imperialis, which is orange with long black spikes. Vermont is home to three species of Noctuidae caterpillars and a single species from the family Drepanidae.
Sphinx moths and hawkmoths are part of the family Sphingidae, with 19 species living in Vermont. Among the Notodontidae, common genera include Clostera and Peridea. Arctiidae includes tiger and lichen moths such as Apantesis phalerata, which attack corn plantations; Estigmene acrea found in tobacco, cotton and potato plantations; and Hypercompe scribonia, which feeds on a variety of plants, from sunflowers to willows. The only Geometridae member living in Vermont is Metarranthis indeclinata.