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Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) | Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLD | Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1971), Tuskes et al. (1996) | Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1971), Covell (1984), Tuskes et al. (1996), Wagner (2005) | |
| Adult Markings: The medium-large, black-and-white banded adults are unmistakeable. Other black-and-white moths are smaller and very few are flying in the late fall and early winter when adult Buck moths are out. The larvae are only likely to be confused with those of the Io moth, which also are covered with branched stinging spines. |
| Wingspan: 50-65 mm (Forbes, 1923) |
| Adult ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known. |
| Immatures and Development: Buck moth larvae are typically dark brown and covered with small white speckling, whereas Io larvae are usually green or orange brown in later instars. Although some Buck moth larvae have a broad pale lateral stripe, none have the white-and-red stripes typical of Io larvae. |
| Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants. |