Antheraea polyphemus “Polyphemus Moth” Saturniidae (male)
Missoula, MT
June 11, 2014
Robert Niese
Surprisingly, I found this enormous moth (15 cm wingspan!) in a parking lot on my way into work on the University of Montana campus.
moths
Antheraea polyphemus “Polyphemus Moth” Saturniidae (male)
Missoula, MT
June 11, 2014
Robert Niese
Surprisingly, I found this enormous moth (15 cm wingspan!) in a parking lot on my way into work on the University of Montana campus.
Ectoedemia sericopeza “Norway Maple Seedminer” Nepticulidae
Missoula, MT
September 25, 2014
Robert Niese
These teensy-tiny moths are rarely over 2mm in length and are among some of the smallest lepidopterans in the world. Their larvae, which are equally infinitesimal, feed exclusively on (and within!) the tissues of the Norway Maple (Acer platanoides), an introduced species which lines most of our streets here in Missoula.
Orgyia antiqua “Rusty Tussock Moth” caterpillar Lymantriidae (now Lymantriinae)
Tacoma, WA
July 12, 2013
Robert Niese
This species is widely dispersed throughout both hardwood and coniferous forests in North America. Here in the Pacific Northwest, it tends to be restricted to moist, low elevation forests west of the Cascades. The caterpillars of this species are generalists and can eat both conifers and flowering plants.
Fun fact: female tussock moths are flightless and lay their eggs en masse on their cocoon. In order to disperse into the wide world beyond the cocoon they’re born on, freshly-hatched larvae will balloon away on the wind.
Agapeta zoegana “Sulphur Knapweed Moth” Tortricidae
August 14, 2014
Missoula, MT
Robert Niese
These diminutive moths (10mm in length) are obligate parasites of our invasive knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) and were introduced in 1984 as a potential biological control agent.
Antheraea polyphemus “Polyphemus Moth” Saturniidae (male)
Missoula, MT
June 11, 2014
Robert Niese
Surprisingly, I found this enormous moth (15 cm wingspan!) in a parking lot on my way into work on the University of Montana campus.
Parasemia plantaginis “Wood Tiger Moth” Arctiidae (now Erebidae)
Missoula, MT
June 15, 2014
Robert Niese
This common, variably-patterned tiger moth is a dayflier and often seen in the moist valleys around Missoula during our peak hiking season. It has a circumboreal distribution, but is the only member of its genus in our area.
Alucita montana “Montana Six-plumed Moth” Alucitidae
Missoula, MT
November 20, 2013
Robert Niese
This is a member of a rather large group of moths that fly using rackets, not paddles. The “plumes” of the plume moths are remarkably similar to feathers on a bird. Learn more about how these remarkable organisms are capable of flying here.
Anania hortulata “Small Magpie” Crambidae
Tacoma, WA
July 8, 2013
Robert Niese
Northwest Naturalist 