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.
Moths of Western North America
About the Book
Reviews
“A must have for those with a serious interest in the Lepidoptera of Western North America.”—Scienceblogs.com/The Guardian"Two of North America's most prolific and respected specialists on moths—particularly those of the West—have combined over a century of experience and scholarship to introduce western moths of all families authoritatively to both the amateur and the experienced professional entomologist. This biologically oriented and beautifully illustrated treatment of a quarter of all known western moth species fills a long-needed void, and does it superbly."—Charles V. Covell Jr., author of A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America
"This work sets a new high water mark for North American lepidopterology. Considering the authors' century of combined studies of western Lepidoptera, it is clear from the outset that no other team could have delivered a work so rich in taxonomic and life history information, much of it being original and appearing in the literature for the first time. I will read my copy more like a novel than a reference work, casting about the accounts and repeatedly flipping through the 2300 color images to better familiarize myself with our continent's rich and handsome diversity of moths. Moths of Western North America will serve as both gateway and catalyst for the study of moths for decades, and especially for microlepidopterans—for whom no like work exists in the New World."—David L. Wagner, author of Caterpillars of Eastern North America
Table of Contents
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