Category Archives: Photographs

These photos introduce our local living fossil (Family Hepialidae) and selected local examples various micromoths (Families Tineidae, Bucculatricidae, Gracillariidae, Ypsolophidae, Plutellidae, and Elachistidae).  The 22 images shown here represent 18 genera and 22 moth species, all of which were found and photographed in either northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.

Can you can identity some of these moths?  Give this a try by matching these photographs with images found on pages 26-59 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America.The Moth Photographer’s Guide has been an excellent resource for helping me become familiar with the overwhelming diversity of our North American moths.  Click on this link to sneak-a-peek at the micromoths archived in the MPG:   http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=01&size=l&sort=h

These images introduce selected examples of our Typical Geometer Moths (Family Geometridae, Subfamily Ennominae).  The 40 images shown here represent 31 genera and 38-39 species of moths, all of which were found and photographed in either northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.

See if you can identity some of these moths by matching these photographs with images found on pages 208-245 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to find images of these and many, many other species of North American Ennominae:   http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=17.0&size=l&sort=h              

These images introduce selected local Wave and Emerald Moths (Family Geometridae, Subfamilies Sterrhinae and Geometrinae).  The 10 moths shown here represent five genera and nine species, all of which were found and photographed in either northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.

Try to identity several of these moths by matching images with photographs found on pages 198-207 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to view images of these as well many, many other species of North American Wave and Emerald Moths:  http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=17.5&size=l&sort=h

These images introduce our local Cochylid Moths (Family Tortricidae, Subfamily Tortricinae, Tribe Cochylini).  The eight small moths shown here represent five genera and eight species, all of which were found and photographed in either northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.

Try to identity a few of these moths by matching these images with photographs found on pages 90-95 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to view images of these as well as many more North American Cochylid Moths:  http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=10.0&size=l&sort=h

These images introduce our local Phosphila, Armyworm, Wedgeling, Rustic, Miranda, and Angle Shade Moths (Family Noctuidae, Subfamily Noctuinae, Tribes Pseudeusrotrotiini, Prodeniini, Elaphriini, Caradrinini, and Phlogophorini).  The 11 moths shown here represent seven genera and eight species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota.

See if you can identity a few of these moths by matching these images with those found on pages 428-439 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to view these as well as many, many more images of these Noctuinae:  http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=61.0&size=l&sort=p

These images introduce our local Nola Moths (Family Nolidae).  Moths shown here represent three genera and 3-4 species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.   

Spend some time trying to identity these Nolas by matching photographs found here with images shown on pages 368-373 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to view many, many more images of Nola Moths:  http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/slow.php?plate=55.0 

These images introduce some of our local Twirler Moths (Family Gelechiidae).  Images shown here probably represent 7-8 different genera and 10-11 species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.    Candidly, I find these ‘Microleps’, these very small Twirler Moths, very difficult to find, extremely difficult photograph, and exceedingly difficult to identify.  😉 

Why don’t you try to identity a few of these moths by matching these Twirler Moth images with images found on pages 60-69 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America? Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to view many, many more images of Gelechiid Moths: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=04&size=l&sort=h

These photographs introduce our common local Wainscot Moths (Family Noctuidae, Subfamily Noctuinae, Tribe Leucaniini).  Images shown here represent three genera and 5-6 species, all of which were found and photographed in either northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.   

I find Wainscot moths very difficult to identify, so I’m hoping to get more familiar with this group of moths in the coming year.  See if you can identity a few of these moths by matching images shown here with those found on pages 494-499 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America.   Click on this link to the Moth Photographer’s Guide to view images of these and many other North American Wainscots: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/slow.php?plate=32&page=10&size=s&sort=h

  These photographs introduce our local Oncocnemidine Sallows, Groundlings, and Wood-Nymphs (Family Noctuidae, Subfamilies Oncocnemidinae, Condicinae, and Agaristinae).  Images shown here represent five genera and eight moth species, all of which were found and photographed in either northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota.   

Try to identity a few of these moths by matching images shown here with those found on pages 414-423 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America.   Click on the links below to view Moth Photographer’s Guide images of these and many, many other North American species in these three Noctuid subfamilies:

Oncocnemidinae and Agaristinae: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=59.0&size=l&sort=p

Condicinae: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=60.0&size=l&sort=p