With over 150,000 species of moth in the world, the diversity is astounding, and the phylogenetic relationships are still being determined.
Superfamily Noctuoidea
Contains over 70,000 species
includes owlet moths, armyworms, tiger moths, tussock moths, snout moths, and underwings
some species are crop pests
many species are pollinators
Noctuidae – Owlet Moths, Armyworms, Stemborers
Visit Jim Wiker’s page on the Moth Photographer’s Group for more Papaipema photos
Erebidae – Webworms, Tiger moths, Tussock Moths, and others
Superfamily Bombycoidea
Saturniidae – Silk Moths
our largest moths
the flying adult life stage is very short
Sphingidae – Sphinx Moths
Superfamily Pterophoroidae
Pterophoridae – Plume Moths
T-shaped at rest
Superfamily Pyraloidea
Crambidae – Snout Moths and Leaf Folders
Superfamily Yponomeutoidae
Yponomeutidae – Ermine Moths
small with wings wrapped around the body at rest
some are very brightly colored
Superfamily Geometroidae
Geometridae – Geometer Moths
includes the “inchworm” caterpillars
many are brightly colored, day flying, and are mistaken for butterflies
Superfamily Tineiodea
Psychidae – Bagworm Moths
common tree pests
caterpillars make a bag of sticks and leaves
Learn about our research on moths
Noctuid moths
Eryngium Stem Borer
Papaipema phylogenetics