The List Page

Here is a list of the principle groups of Lepidoptera covered on this website, and indications as to whether or not there are significant photographic representation of the groups. As stated before, the microlepidoptera are significantly underrepresented photographically, and the links for the "Microlepidoptera" groups will basically take you to a list of species which should occur in the state of Georgia as well as a generalized range for each species that Jim Taylor pulled from the original references. You will notice that for some species that have been collected in Georgia, the reported ranges come nowhere close to Georgia. Just goes to show how much we can expand our knowledge of ranges of leps by doing just a little collecting.

UPDATING OF RANGE INFORMATION HAS BEGUN: On the list pages, any range given in red has been updated partially (this doesn't mean that the range information is final).

Remember that the photographic quality is mixed. Some pictures are very sharp, others are slightly out of focus, though you should still be able to identify butterflies and moths from these pictures. When manipulating the digital images before website construction, I also saved them at a somewhat lower resolution so they would load quicker when you call them up. As such, I sacrificed a little quality for convenience.

For all of the groups listed below, the list pages contain the scientific name, generalized range and a P3# number for virtually all species. This refers to a web published (and updated) manuscript called "Annotated taxonomic checklist of the Lepidoptera of North America, North of Mexico". This publication should be referenced as "Pohl, G.R., Patterson, B., & Pelham, J.P. 2016. Annotated taxonomic checklist of the Lepidoptera of North America, North of Mexico. Working paper published online by the authors at ResearchGate.net. 766 pp."

For some of the groups, the list pages additionally contain indication of whether or not there is a confirmed record for a species from Georgia and whether or not there is a larval picture presented here. Also listed are common names for some species. Many, many of the moths, however, do not have a common name, so do not expect to see a common name for every species on a particular page. For those of you looking for particular moths and yet unfamiliar with the different groups, go to the Helpful Hints page to help you find out what group your moth is in.

As I stated on the introductory page, the nomenclature that is followed here incorporates names and generic rearrangements from many of the most recent works. Some of what is included is still controversial, and, in some cases, I have chosen not to agree with certain published changes. I might change my mind later! In other cases, I've moved some species based on my own findings and discussions I've have had with other people, even though the changes haven't officially been published yet. If you notice any nomenclatural issues that you would like to discuss with me, or misspellings of some of the names, please also bring these to my attention, again by e-mailing me at jadams@daltonstate.edu

"MICROLEPIDOPTERA"

Monotrysian groups: Eriocranioidea, Hepialoidea, Nepticuloidea, Adeloidea, Tischerioidea

Ditrysian "Micros": Tineoidea, Gracillarioidea, Yponomeutoidea, Gelechioidea, Carposinoidea, Epermenioidea, Urodioidea, Choreutoidea, Galacticoidea (Several scattered images)

Alucitoidea and Pterophoroidea: Plume-Moths (one picture currently).

Tortricoidea: A vast majority of the Georgian tortricids are now pictured (thanks to Jim Vargo); from time to time there will be some on the unknowns page .

Cossoidea: Photos of the entire Georgian cossid fauna and a few sesiids

            Families included:
                    Cossidae -- Carpenter-Worm Moths
                    Dudgeonidae
                    Sesiidae -- Clearwing (or Wasp) Moths

Zygaenoidea: Pictures for most of the GA fauna.

          Families included:
                    Epipyropidae -- Planthopper Parasite Moths
                    Lacturidae -- Formerly considered part of the Yponomeutids
                    Limacodidae -- Slug Caterpillar Moths
                    Megalopygidae -- Puss Caterpillar Moths
                    Zygaenidae -- Smoky Moths (in Europe, this family includes the Burnets)

"MACROLEPIDOPTERA"

Papilionoidea
Butterflies and Skippers: Many photos; more can be reached through website links.

Thydridoidea/Hyblaeoidea/Pyraloidea/Mimallonoidea:
Several pictures for the pyralids; pictures for the entire GA fauna of the Thyrididae.
Mimallonidae -- Sack-Bearer Moths

Drepanoidea/Lasiocampoidea/Bombycoidea: Many pictures, including some larvae.

            Families included:
                 Drepanidae -- Hook-Tip Moths
                 Apatelodidae
                 Lasiocampidae -- Tent Caterpillar or Lappet Moths
                 Saturniidae -- Giant Silkworm Moths
                 Sphingidae -- Sphinx, Hummingbird or Hawk Moths

Geometroidea: Many pictures, including some larvae
            Families included:
                Geometridae -- Inchworm or Spanworm Moths; Geometers
                Epiplemidae

Noctuioidea -- many, many pictures

The Notodontidae -- Prominents

               The Erebidae includes part of the former Noctuidae, and the following former families:
                   Arctiidae       -- Lichen, Tiger, and Wasp Moths (Sesiids also called Wasp Moths);
                        larvae are called Woolly Bears
                   Lymantriidae -- Tussock Moths

               The Euteliidae and Nolidae:
                     The Euteliidae is now a separate family (includes Paectes, Marathyssa and Eutelia)
                     The Nolidae are again considered a separate small family

               The Noctuidae now includes everything from the former Noctuidae including and past the Plusiines

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