Category Archives: Photographs

Local Spring Moths (March-May)

This checklist introduces families and genera for the ‘Spring’ moths I’ve found and photographed during the months of March, April, and May, in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, 2012-2015.   Click on Families or Genera to see images and learn more.  And click here (Checklist Spring Moth Genera) to obtain a printable, one-page copy of this checklist.

These images introduce selected local Small Arches and Summer Quaker Moths (Family Noctuidae, Subfamilies Noctuinae, Tribe Eriopygini).  The eight images of shown here represent three genera and six moth species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota. 

See if you can to identity a few of these moths by matching them with images found on pages 498-507 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on the link below to find many other images of North American Small Arches and Summer Quaker Moths found in the Moth Photographer’s Guide:  http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=64.0&size=l&sort=p

These images introduce a our local Glyphs, Bird-dropping, Zigzag, and Brother Moths (Family Noctuidae, Subfamilies Eustrotiinae, Acontiidae, Pantheinae, and Dilobinae). The seven moths shown here represent five genera and seven species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota. 

See if you can to identity a few of these moths by matching them with images found on pages 384-393 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on the link below to find many, many other images of North American noctuid moths archived in the Moth Photographer’s Guide:  http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/WalkThrough05.shtml

Carl’s Excedrin Headache No. 37: The Dirty Dozen…

Click on images to enlarge.   Bugguide.net numbers for specimens are found below.  Please send me a note if you think you may recognize any of these moths.  Thanks for looking.

Tomas Mustelin suggested identities for these specimens: Moth 1 – BG# 569304, Apamea cogitata; Moth 2– BG# 631839, Orthosia hibisci; Moth 3– BG# 656746, Orthodes cynica; Moth 4 – 681607, Lacinipolia mediata; Moth 5 – BG# 693408, Lacinipolia mediata; Moth 6 – BG# 693413, Lacinipolia mediata; Moth 7 – BG# 688472, Lacinipolia mediata; Moth 8 – BG# 782263, Melanchra adjuncta; Moth 9 – BG# 793260, Apamea sordens; Moth 10 – BG# 796887, Lacinipolia teligera; Moth 11 – BG# 816783, Mesapamea fractiliea; and Moth 12 – BG#835384, Lacinipolia olivacea.  Thank you, Tomas!

These images introduce a few of our local Plume and Many-Plumed Moths (Families Pterophoridae and Alucitidae). The eight moths shown here represent eight genera and eight different species, I think, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.  These are very difficult moths to identity to the species level! 

See if you can to identity a few of these moths by matching them with images found on pages 124-131 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on the link below to find other swell images of North American Plume Moths archived in the Moth Photographer’s Guide:    http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=15.0&size=l&sort=h  

These images introduce a few of our local Sparganothid Leafrollers(Family Tortricidae, Subfamilies Torticinae, Tribe Sparganothidini). The six moths shown here represent three genera and four different species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota.

Try to identity a couple of these moths by matching these photographs with images found on pages 102-107 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on the link below to to view images of these and many other species of Sparganothid Leafroller Moths catalogued in the Moth Photographer’s Guide: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=09.2&size=l&sort=h

These images introduce some of our local Crambid Moths (Family Crambidae, Subfamilies Scoparinae, Crambinae [excluding the genus Crambus, which was introduced here on 07 March 2014], Schoenobiinae, Acentropinae, and Glaphyriinae).  Note: The subfamily Pyraustinae is excluded here because it was introduced earlier, on 21 March 2014.  The collage of 22 images of moths shown here represent 16 genera and 19-21 different species, all of which were found and photographed in either northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.

Try to identity some of these moths by matching these images with photographs found on pages 146-147 and 150-165 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on this link to to view images of these as well many, many other species of Crambid Moths found online in the Moth Photographer’s Guide: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=12.0&size=l&sort=h

These images introduce selected examples of our local Thyatirid and Scoopwing Moths (Families Depranidae and Uraniidae).  The four images shown here represent three genera and three different species of moths.  These specimens were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota.  Once you know where to look in the field guide, these moths are not difficult to identify. 

See if you can identify these moths by matching these images with those found on pages 176-179 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America.  Click on the two links below to find other living images of North American Depranidae and Uraniidae archived in the Moth Photographer’s Guide: 

Depranidae:  http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=16&sort=h

Uraniidae:  http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=18.0&size=l&sort=h

These images introduce selected examples of our local Pyralid Moths (Family Pyralidae).  The 35 images shown here probably represent at least 26 genera and 33-35 different species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota.  Candidly, I find genera and species in this family frustratingly difficult to identify!  Why don’t you try to identity a few of these moths by matching above images with those found on pages 132-147 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America.  Good luck!  Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to find images of these and many, many other examples of North American Pyralid Moths:   http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=13.0&size=l&sort=h     

These images introduce selected examples of our local Olethreutine Moths (Family Tortricidae, Subfamily Olethreutinae).  The 40 moth images shown here represent 15 genera and 38-40 different species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota.

Try to identity several of these moths by matching them with images shown on pages 106-125 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America.  This is hard work!  Good luck!  Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to find images of these and many, many other examples of North American Olethreutine Moths:    http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=08.0&size=l&sort=h