Moths of Western North America

Insects boast incredible diversity, and this book treats an important component of the western insect biota that has not been summarized before—moths and their plant relationships. There are about 8,000 named species of moths in our region, and although most are unnoticed by the public, many attract attention when their larvae create economic damage: eating holes in woolens, infesting stored foods, boring into apples, damaging crops and garden plants, or defoliating forests. In contrast to previous North American moth books, this volume discusses and illustrates about 25% of the species in every family, including the tiny species, making this the most comprehensive volume in its field. With this approach it provides access to microlepidoptera study for biologists as well as amateur collectors. About 2,500 species are described and illustrated, including virtually all moths of economic importance, summarizing their morphology, taxonomy, adult behavior, larval biology, and life cycles.

Insects boast incredible diversity, and this book treats an important component of the western insect biota that has not been summarized before—moths and their plant relationships. There are about 8,000 named species of moths in our region, and although most are unnoticed by the public, many attract attention when their larvae create economic damage: eating holes in woolens, infesting stored foods, boring into apples, damaging crops and garden plants, or defoliating forests. In contrast to previous North American moth books, this volume discusses and illustrates about 25% of the species in every family, including the tiny species, making this the most comprehensive volume in its field. With this approach it provides access to microlepidoptera study for biologists as well as amateur collectors. About 2,500 species are described and illustrated, including virtually all moths of economic importance, summarizing their morphology, taxonomy, adult behavior, larval biology, and life cycles.

PART ONE
Introduction to Lepidoptera and Moths
Morphology 
Biology 
Significance in Natural and Human Communities 
Fossil Record and Evolution 
A History of Moth Collectors in Western North America 

PART TWO
Classification and Natural History of the Moths of Western North America
Primitive Lineages 
Zeugloptera Clade 
Superfamily Micropterigoidea 
Glossata, Homoneura Clade 
Superfamily Eriocranioidea 
Exoporia Clade 
Superfamily Hepialoidea Clade 
Heteroneura, Monotrysia Clade 
Superfamily Nepticuloidea 
Superfamily Incurvarioidea 
Superfamily Tischerioidea 
Ditrysia, Nonapoditrysian Superfamilies 
Superfamily Tineoidea 
Superfamily Gracillarioidea 
Superfamily Gelechioidea 
Superfamily Gelechioidea, Oecophorid Lineage 
Superfamily Gelechioidea, Elachistid Lineage 
Superfamily Yponomeutoidea 
Apoditrysia 
Nonobtectomeran Superfamilies 
Superfamily Schreckensteinioidea
Superfamily Epermenioidea 
Superfamily Alucitoidea 
Superfamily Pterophoroidea 
Superfamily Choreutoidea 
Superfamily Sesioidea 
Superfamily Cossoidea 
Superfamily Tortricoidea 
Superfamily Zygaenoidea 
Marc E. Epstein and James K. Adams
Unspecialized Obtectomera 
Superfamily Copromorphoidea
Superfamily Thyridoidea 
Obtectomera 
Superfamily Pyraloidea 
Macrolepidoptera 
Superfamily Drepanoidea 
Superfamily Geometroidea 
Superfamily Mimallonoidea 
Superfamily Lasiocampoidea 
Superfamily Bombycoidea 
Superfamily Noctuoidea 

SUGGESTIONS FOR COLLECTING AND OBSERVING MOTHS 
GLOSSARY 
INSECT INDEX 
PLANT INDEX 
GENERAL INDEX 
Color Plates