Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello again. I'm a zoology student and love taxonomy, I've taken mammology and ornithology and just like to know the names of every living creature I see. When it comes to bugs, though, I haven't a clue. I had a summer job collecting aquatic insects, so I familiar with some of them, but as for Lepidopterans, I could tell you an Isabella caterpillar, Monarch caterpillar and butterfly, and Viceroy and Yellow Swallowtail butterfly. And that is all!

I read in a Nat Geo article that the authors used a black light on a white sheet to attract moths. So I used a blue light on my white garage door, and got nothing! If I just leave the garage light on all night, I'm sure I could attract a lot more. Is there a best time or better way? This wouldn't be for chameleon-feeding purposes, don't worry. I'd just like to stare at them and say, "ooo, what's that?".

Could you reccomend any guide books? Or a dichotomous key style web site? The USGS website is nice, but it sucks to click on each picture when trying to id a moth. Then there would also be less "what's this?" posts.

~Melissa

I agree about the moth site - it can use some improvement but I often send folks there b/c that is often their level of interest. I tend to use it more for verification. Also, all the specimens are dead, spread and have been killed by the typical pinched thorax (look how they all have a little "kink." The site I linked in the former post is all of live specimens.

There are loads of sites but the one that has been indispensable to me is one that a guy form Canada has put together. I have linked you to his non-member site below. If you become interested in the Saturniidae (giant silks) and/or Sphinigdae (sphinx) it is worth the small fee he charges. it is a lifetime membership (his lifetime - LOL!)
GIANT MOTHS (SATURNIIDAE)

so that's where your interest comes form - most just think I am nuts! LOL! Just curious - where do you live?

Most moths will congregate around an ordinary porch light. Using a black light, not a blue light, will bring in a larger variety. your garage door might work but the idea of the sheet is to attract "through" the sheet in order to keep them there and it is a great way to learn shape i.d. I have not personally used the light/sheet but was with a friend once who did. I recently met a woman at a conference (she does research on the decline of the giant silks (Saturniidae)) who suggested I use the light/sheet so I may try.

Before I go any further, I have to recommend a book to you. It came out in 2002 and is written by a guy from CT. I live in NH so it was most helpful since species are similar. it is a fun, informative book and a very easy read. The book is Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard by John Himmelman One of the most helpful things in this book is his page of Moth Family Silhouettes - I use this page as a starting point when identifying things either on this site or on my own. Anyway, it is a must have book if you ant to learn night flying moths especially if you live in the northeast. He also has a website – I linked it below.

I have 6 different species of Saturniidae going right now and at least 100 larvae. I typically do less than this but I didn’t release a gravid female luna soon enough and ended up with about 100 of her eggs! Yikes! Many are spinning so it is getting easier but my io’s are getting to their 5th instar and are eating like crazy!

OK, that’s it for now, as I have to get some work done!

Later,
lele

p.s. if you get addicted the oooh and ahhh will come along with it
CT moths

Thanks! I will look for that book. I was looking at field guides yesterday but they were either butterflies only, or butterflies and moths (of the world). I was looking for a butterfly/moth of N.A.

Do you keep your moths permanently? Or do you just capture for the eggs, raise the caterpillars, and then release the adults? What do you feed them?

Hmm, I also have cham questions I could ask you, since I know you have a veiled. Would you please look at my "adopt female veiled" post in the cham forum?

Oh, and I live in Michigan.
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~Melissa

hi Melissa,

I wrote out a long reply and somehow deleted it – ugh. Didn’t have time to rewrite but here it is…
Check out Amazon or his website for the book. Unfortunately, there are few guides to just moths. The best is one by Charles Covell which is out of print and is sometimes found on e-bay for $100! I do not have a copy and will not pay $100 for it. According to the author it is to be reprinted soon.

The Peterson First Guides and Simon & Schuster are decent. Search Amazon and you may find something for your area but it will probably include both butterflies and moths and these rarely have pix of the larval stage (which to me is important in i.d.). Himmelman’s book and website are great and even though you live in Michigan there are plenty of crossover’s. What’s nice about his site is all his photos are of live moths.

Another site for fun is www.bugguide.net/ and another is www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/america/index.htm

I do not collect moths for specimens. If it is a male I release the same night after eclosion; if female I may put out to wild pair and then collect a dozen or so eggs from her then release her. I do have one specimen of a female luna, but it was an exception.
The adults wild silks don’t feed but they only live 5-7 days (typically). So I just take LOTS of pix and then release. If I have a lot to go in one night I will have some of the neighborhood kids over

I know I wrote more than this in the original (now deleted) post but don’t recall. Oh, did I send you to my webshots? I have some photos there and will be uploading a lot more. http://community.webshots.com/user/13lele

I think your cham question has been answered

lele