Practical Moth Recording

1. Recording methods
2. Field identification skills
3. Classification (1 - overview of micromoths)
4. Classification (2 - overview of macromoths)
5. Specimen preparation
6. Field session @ Dairy Farm (Wallace Education Ctr)
7. Field session review & quiz
8. Data management
NSS 2014 Moth Workshop
Slide 2 Practical Moth Recording, 5 & 6 July 2014

Introduction to Moths
• Diversity
• Survival Strategies
• Ecological Services
• Role in Wildlife Conservation

Moth Diversity

1. Recording Moths
• Lights
• Traps
• Nets
• Baits
• Larvae
• Photography
• Weather
• Keeping Records
• Publishing

Lights
MV – mercury vapour
Actinic / UV – ultra-violet
LED
Tungsten (incandescent)
Halogen

“Traps”
Sheet – needs to be manned at
all times. Good in the tropics Not
good for abundance samples.
Box – “Heath” and “Skinner”
traps. Catch retention reasonable,
but a long way from perfect.
Bucket – “Robinson” trap
most efficient design, but still well
short of 100% catch retention. Large
traps not very portable, smaller
versions for use with actinic tubes
more portable.

Nets
Sweep net
Hand net
Malaise trap

Baits
“Sugar”
wine rope
fruit
faeces
synthetic
pheromones
others . . .
Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm (via Wikipedia)Photo: D.E.Walter
(http://homebuggarden.blogspot.hk/2014/06/winters-coming.html)

Moth Larvae
Finding larvae
beating tray
sweep net
leaf rolls
leaf mines
galls (stems, twigs,
buds)
flowers & fruits
Rearing larvae
t.l.c. !
making notes & taking
photos . . .

Photography
digital camera
data storage
macro function
close focus
control of flash
best views to shoot
for i.d.
Slide 11 Practical Moth Recording, 5& 6 July 2014

Weather
Light trapping: avoid high wind & heavy rain; light
rain / mist and warm conditions seem best; in HK
night time min between 17°C and 28°C optimal; in
UK between 8°C and ? (not warm enough!)
larval searching: avoid heavy rain (everything
washed away!)
sugar/bait/pheromone: calm weather best

Keeping Records
what, (who made the
id)
sight record, voucher
specimen (where kept)
or photo
where seen/collected
when recorded
kept in notebook or on
computer database

Publishing
individual records of
note or a species life
history;
summary of a single
recording event
site or area lists
changes in species seen
or phenology (long term
data), distribution . . .

2. Field Identification of Moths
Wing pattern
Colour
Antennae
Resting Posture
Behaviour

Visible Field Characters
Adults
• Wing shape, pattern, posture
and coupling mechanism;
• On the head: form of antenna
and of labial palps;
• Presence of haustellum (coiled
proboscis – may be degenerate
or lost in some taxa);
• Pattern on head, thorax and
abdomen;
• Leg morphology & patterns.
Larvae
• Number of abdominal
prolegs;
• Pattern, spines, other
appendages.

Wing Patterns - areas
• Note the distinctive pattern features in relation to the areas
above.
• For clarity, all the possible lines (fascia and streaks) have not
been illustrated in the following pages – a streak could occur
anywhere on the wing; note its relative position to the nearest
edge and wing area.
medial
basal
terminal
costa
termen
tornus
dorsum
apex
base

Wing Patterns – vertical lines
lines crossing the wing:
Fasciae
1 – basal fascia
2 – sub-medial or ante-
medial fascia
3 – medial fascia
4 – post-medial fascia
5 – sub-terminal fasica
1
2 3 4 5

Wing Patterns - streaks
lines along the wing:
Streaks
1 – basal streak
2 – medial streak
3 – tornal streak
4 – apical streak
1
2 3
4

Wing Patterns - spots
spots on the wing
1 – orbicular stigma
2 – claviform stigma
3 – sub-reniform stigma
4 – discal spot, inside
the reniform stigma
1
3
2
4

Wing Patterns - veins
wing venation
(stems only)
1 – sub-costal vein (Sc)
2 – radial sector (Rs)
3 – cubital (Cu) / medial
vein (M)
4 – anal vein (A)
c – discal cell
1
4
2
3
c

Colour
Note the colour(s) of the wing patterns.
• Whilst this is not always diagnostic, it is usually a
good guide to a species’ identity.
• Be aware that species may differ between male
and female patterns, between wet and dry
seasons and have melanic or darkened forms.
• Sometimes colours on the body or ventral wing
surface may be diagnostic.

Antennae
Note the form and length of the
antenna,
• filiform (simple, threadlike)
• uni-, bi-, tri- or quadripectinate
(with one ramus per segment,
or 2 – 4 rami per segment)
• fasciculate
and if there is any distinct basal
modification, especially at the
scape (base)

Resting Posture
Note how the moth sits:
• how are the wings held;
• where are the antennae?
• how does it position its body and legs?

Behaviour
What is the moth doing?
• record flowers visited;
• other nutritional sources used;
• thermoregulation behaviour;
• sexual behaviour;
• territorial behaviour.

Field i.d. – key references
• Barlow, H.S., 1982. An Introduction to the Moths of South East Asia.
Malayan Nature Society.
• Fauna Sinica Insecta (Science Press, Beijing), vols. 3, 5, 7, 11, 15, 16,
19, 27, 30, 31, 36, 38, 47.
• Haruta, T. (ed.) 1992-2000. Moths of Nepal (in 6 parts, published as
supplement volumes of the journal Tinea)
• Holloway, J.D., 1983-2011. The Moths of Borneo (in 18 parts)
[available on-line, except parts 2, 13 & 17]
• Leverton, R., 2001. Enjoying Moths. T. & A.D.Poyser Natural History,
London
• Robinson, G.S., Tuck, K.R. & Shaffer, M., 1994. The Smaller Moths of
South-East Asia. The Natural History Museum, London
• various authors. The Moths of Thailand. 6 volumes published to date.,
Bangkok.

3. Moth Classification
•Key Lepidoptera characters
•Major Families in Asia

Characters
Lepidoptera = Greek for scale-winged
27 characters defining Lepidoptera:
main ones on adult Lepidoptera are: -
• Hairs on wing modified as scales;
• Presence of haustellum (coiled proboscis – may be
degenerate or lost in some taxa);
• Presence of “vom Rath’s organ” in terminal segment of
labial palp;
• Fore tibia with movable “epiphysis” (antenna comb) on
inner surface;
• Median ocellus absent.

Major Families in Asia
• Tineidae
• Gracillariidae
• Yponomeutidae
• Oecophoridae
• Gelechiidae
• Tortricidae
• Pyralidae
• Crambidae
• Thyrididae
• Zygaenidae
• Sesiidae
• Sphingidae
• Saturniidae
• Geometridae
• Notodontidae
• Erebidae (inc. Arctiinae &
Lymantriinae)
• Nolidae
• Noctuidae

Practical Moth Recording, 5 & 6 July 2014
source:
Mutanen et al., 2010

Tineidae
Includes “Clothes Moths”
Will run rather than fly
Many are detritivores on animal matter; some
subfamilies specialize as fungivores.
Small moths, 10 to 20 mm wingspan, mostly
dull browns
rough scales on head of adult; haustellum
often degenerate.
~ 3,000 named spp. globally.
close relatives include the Bagworms -
Psychidae

Gracillariidae
Leaf Miners
(blotch and blister mines) as larvae.
Adults with very long antennae, smooth
scales on head; small or v. small, w/s 7 - 20
mm; often very colourful, reds, yellows
dominant. V.long h/w fringes.
Adults rest with front and mid legs pushing
front of body up at 30° from horizontal with
tip of abdomen still touching substrate,
wings tightly wrapped; antennae twirled
prior to settling down.

Yponomeutidae (s.l.)
Small Ermine Moths
inc. Attevidae, Plutellidae
Many species are communial
webspinners as larvae.
Very small to fairly small
moths, 8 – 25mm w/s;
antennae around ½ f/w length.
Some rest with head down
and body raised. Proboscis
well developed, not scaled at
base

Oecophoridae
A mixed bag – several subfamilies.
Head smooth scaled. Detritivores,
leaf miners, stem borers
Very small to quite large moths (8 –
40 mm w/s), mostly small species.
Full hindwing, many species quite
stout for “microleps”.
Stathmopodidae
(small, often brightly coloured)
have whorls of bristles on legs,
hindlegs held outwards and
upwards at around 45 – 60° from
body; possibly some diurnal spp.

Gelechiidae
Borers / Twirlers
3rd segment of labial palp
usually long, narrow and
upturned or recurved;
h/w usually broad, trapezoidal,
the termen sinuous, with a
acutely produced apex.
Mostly dull coloured and
mottled, a few bright species.
Small to fairly small moths, 10
– 20 mm w/s.

Bell Moths
Labial palps porrect,
normally small. Head
roughly scaled. Hindwings
broad, rounded.
Leaf-rollers, fruit & seed
borers, gall formers
Small to fairly small moths
10 – 25 mm w/s
Some pest species
successfully controlled with
pheromone traps.
Tortricidae

Pyralidae
Knot-horns, Meal Moths . . . .
Tympanal organ at base of
abdomen (also in Crambidae -
tympanal shape determines
group).
Six subfamilies, mostly
detritivores; includes wax moth
(Galleria mellonella), Indian meal
moth (Plodia interpunctella).
Antennae on Phycitinae have
distinctive “knot” near base and
rest tighly involute.
Small to quite large moths (10 –
40 mm w/s)

Leaf-rollers
16 subfamilies – diverse!
Small to quite large moths (10 –
50 mm w/s). Often colourful;
rest almost flat to quite raised
at the head, wings widespread
in most subfamilies, involute in
Crambidae and Schoenobiinae;
antennae held along top of
abdomen (also in Pyralidae).
Larvae of Acentropinae
(=Nymphulinae) are aquatic.
Crambidae

Thyrididae
Tropical Leaf Moths
“sitting up” posture
intricate patterns, often
with hyaline patches,
leaf roll larval shelters

Burnet Moths
small to large moths, often
brightly coloured. Poisonous,
capable of making HCN. Probably
involved as models for many
other moths in Batesian mimicry
rings, as well as in Müllerian
mimicry rings.
Many species are diurnal.
Becoming significant in the trade
of Lepidoptera specimens.
Zygaenidae

Sesiidae
Clearwing Moths
superb mimics of wasps and
bees.
almost exclusively diurnal,
sometimes seen at light.
usually recorded by
pheromone trapping using
mixtures of long carbon
chain acetates (increasingly
used in Asia, especially Japan
and Vietnam)
photo credit: Chris Ng (HK Wildlife Net)photo credit: Chris Ng (HK Wildlife Net)

Intermission
TEA BREAK

30 minutes
15:03

8. Data management

Sphingidae
Hawk Moths, Sphinx Moths
Haustellum well developed
(Sphinginae, Macroglossinae),
Very capable fliers, many can
hover; adult body form typically
v-deltoid
Larvae with “caudal horn” on
dorsal surface of last abdominal
segment (sometimes
rudimentary)
Medium to large moths (35 –
140 mm), around 1,300 species
globally.

Saturniidae
Emperor Moths, Atlas
Moths, Moon Moths
No wing coupling
mechanism; haustellum
absent or rudimetary;
maxillary palps vestigial;
labial palps reduced or very
reduced.
Large to very large moths –
80 to 300 mm w/s
about 1,300 species globally

Geometridae
Looper Moths, Emeralds,
Carpets, Waves . . . .
Larvae usually have only one pair of
prolegs + anal claspers
Adults with tympanic handle (“ansa”)
curving over abdominal tympanum
Generally slender bodied with broad
wings, well suited to sheltered
vegetation, especially forest.
Small to large moths (10 – 100 mm
w/s)
Subfamilies often niche specific

Noctuoidea
within S.E.Asia
Notodontidae
Erebidae
(including
Lymantriinae
Arctiinae and many of
the “old” Catocalinae of
Noctuidae)
Nolidae
Euteliidae
Noctuidae
source: Zahiri et al., 2012. Systematic Entomology 37: 102–124
A B
C D
E F

Notodontidae
Prominent Moths
Metathoracic tympanum
(Noctuoidea character),
with “bulla” (a teardrop shaped
swelling) above; tips of tibial spurs
serrated
Dorsal edge of f/w often with
tooth-like projections.
Most species highly cryptic.
Larvae feed on shrubs and trees.
Fairly small to large moths (25 –
120 mm w/s)
about 3,000 species globally.

Erebidae
Owlet Moths, Snout Moths,
Fanfoots, Underwing Moths . . .
highly diverse family, containing
many subfamilies.
Hindwing with quadrifine cubital
vein pattern, counter-tympanal
hood on abdomen is post-
spiracular or absent
Small to large moths (8 – 130
mm w/s in Asia, up to 300 mm in
Americas)

Erebidae (Lymantriinae)
Tussock Moths
Hindwing with quadrifine
cubital vein pattern,
counter-tympanal hood on
abdomen is pre-spiracular
haustellum vestigial
larvae with group of 4
prominent scale tussocks on
thorax & abdomen, often
urticating; some spp are
forest defoliators

Erebidae (Arctiinae)
Tiger, Footmen & Wasp
(Handmaiden) Moths
Adults hindwing with quadrifine
cubital vein pattern, counter-
tympanal hood on abdomen is pre-
spiracular, with a tymbal organ on
metepisternum (just above
hindleg), haustellum usually
developed. Many are diurnal.
Larvae have two subventral setae
(stiff hairs) on the meso- and
metathorax, often densly hairy,
Lithosiini are lichenivorous

Nolidae
Nycteolines, bollworms. . .
defined by boat shaped
cocoon and features of the
adult male genitalia (no field
characters for adults); many
species with raised tufts of
wing scales and pupae
capable of sound production
Diverse forms between
subfamilies, within
subfamilies fairly similar.
Some notable pest species

Noctuidae
Armyworms, Wainscots,
Brocades, Quakers, Sharks,
Underwings, Rustics, Plusias. . .
H/w Cubital vein in adults
appears trifine.
Mainly open habitat species,
often associated with
monocotyledons, and
considered pests; some
notable migrant species

classification – key references
• Mutanen, M., Wahlberg, N. & Kaila, L., 2010. Comprehensive gene and taxon
coverage elucidates radiation patterns in moths and butterflies. Proc. R. Soc. B.
doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.0392.
• van Nieukerken et al., 2011. Order Lepidoptera. Zootaxa 3148: 212-221. [pdf]
• Regier, J. C. et al., 2013. A Large-Scale, Higher-Level, Molecular Phylogenetic Study
of the Insect Order Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies). PLoS ONE 8(3): e58568.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058568.
• Zahiri, R., et al., 2013. Relationships among the basal lineages of Noctuidae
(Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea) based on eight gene regions. Zoologica Scripta.
doi: 10.1111/zsc.12022.
• Zahiri, R., et al., 2011. A new molecular phylogeny offers hope for a stable family-
level classification of the Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera). Zoologica Scripta, 40: 158–
173.
• Zahiri, R. et al., 2012. Molecular phylogenetics of Erebidae (Lepidoptera,
Noctuoidea). Systematic Entomology 37: 102–124. [pdf]

classification – more key references
• Sihvonen, P., et al., 2011. Comprehensive molecular sampling yields a robust
phylogeny for geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). PLoS ONE 6(6):
e20356. - doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020356
• Sohn, J.-C., et al., 2013. A molecular phylogeny for Yponomeutoidea (Insecta,
Lepidoptera, Ditrysia) and its implications for classification, biogeography and the
evolution of host plant use. PLoS ONE 8(1): e55066. - doi:10.1371/ journal.
pone.0055066
• Regier, J.C., et al., 2012. A molecular phylogeny for the leaf-roller moths
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and its implications for classification and life history
evolution. PLoS ONE 7(4): e35574. - doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035574
• Holloway, J.D., 1986. Moths of Borneo part 1. Malayan Nature Journal 40: 1-166.
• Holloway, J.D., 2011. Moths of Borneo part 2. Malayan Nature Journal 63: 1-548.
• Scoble, M.J., 1992. The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity. The Natural
History Museum, London.

web resources
(some of them, anyway!)
I-Naturalist (Lepidoptera; Hong Kong Moths);
BOLD Systems Taxonomy Browser;
Sphingidae of S.E.Asia / Eastern Palaearctic;
Global databases: Gelechioidea, Tortricidae, Hampson
“Noctuidae”, Sphingidae, Gracillariidae, Tineidae,
Pyraloidea; NHM LepIndex
Moths of Borneo, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Asia;
Flickr moth groups – HK, Taiwan, Borneo, India ;
India Biodiversity (Moths);
Facebook (Mothing & Moth Watching, Moth Maniacs, ALCG,
Singapore, India, Sri Lanka.)
Slide 56 Practical Moth Recording, 5& 6 July 2014

5. Preparing Voucher Specimens

In the field
• Fresh specimens are easier to identify;
• In hot weather use a “cold bag” to retain specimens for
later inspection / preparation;
• If retaining only difficult to identify species, may be
possible to set specimens in-situ (especially micros);
• Take sufficient specimen pots of varying sizes;
• Consider papering specimens;
• Killing methods for the field – ammonia, ethyl acetate,
pinching.

Papering
For:
• Saves storage space later;
• Quick in the field;
• Less to carry back to the lab (less pots and no cold bag!)
Against:
• Makes i/d difficult;
• Specimens may be difficult to curate if photos needed;
• Extra pre-field preparation time;
• Extra handling.

Pinning
Larger moth specimens (roughly > 15 mm wingspan) - the
mid-thorax, vertically in both axes of the horizontal plane.
This prevents damage to the wing muscles that is likely to
hinder setting.
Smaller moth specimens - the mid-thorax, (sometimes the
post-thorax). Laterally perpendicular, though front-back
angle is ~10-20° from perpendicular, angled towards the
front below the body.
Use a stereoscopic microscope for pinning small specimens
(<8-10 mm).

Set Specimens
• Formal setting only really required
for illustrative purposes, usually to
confirm an identification.
• Storage of set specimens is space
consuming and expensive.
• Is pinning sufficient?

Small Moths
Usually sufficient to partially
“blow” spread the wings of a
pinned micro-moth.
Can use a plastazote sheet in a
small plastic box as a pinning
substrate. These can be labeled for
each recording event and processed
later in the lab if formal setting is
required.
See also the paper by Landry &
Landry (1994).
Micro-moths should be double
staged to prevent damage to the
specimen when being handled.

Data Labels I
Absolutely essential for each specimen!!
Use permanent ink on thin card.
Long term effectiveness of laser printers not yet proven.
Site label:
COUNTRY, province / state / county;
Location / site name, UTM grid ref. or lat./long.;
recording date, method, recorder (leg. ………);
habitat and altitude also useful.

Data Labels II
Determination label:
Genus species; (scientific name only is required)
Species author;
Higher tax.placement (Family, subfamily, tribe);
Determiner (det. ………), date of determination.
Other labels:
•Type specimens (Holotype, Allotype, Paratype)
•Photography labels
•Collection accession labels

Curation & Storage
Tropical weather is problematic as high humidity gives fungi
and small insects a good chance of destroying any curated
animal specimen.
Storage thus must be in a controlled environment – “pest-
proof” (sealed); low humidity (<50% r.h.) and pest repelling
materials added (e.g. camphor, naphthalene).
Specimens of uncertain origin should be treated with
“quarantine” conditions, kept apart from a main collection in
a freezer or with para-dichloro-benzene [PDB] for at least
several weeks to kill any pests or pathogens.

“Type” specimens
Holotype – the specimen chosen to be
representative of the species; should be a male.
Allotype – female equivalent of the holotype.
Paratype – the remaining specimens from the
original series used to describe the species.
Topotype – a specimen from the recording location
of the original holotype.
Lectotype – subsequently designated where
holotype, allotype or paratypes have not been
designated by the original author.

Voucher Specimens – key references
• Dickson, R., 1976. A Lepidopterist’s Handbook. The
Amateur Entomologist 13.
(3rd edition published in 2014)
• May & White, 2006. Preparing and Maintaining a
Collection of Butterflies and Moths. Amateur
Entomologists’ Society, London.
• Landry, J-F. & Landry, B., 1994. A technique for
setting and mounting microlepidoptera. Journal of
the Lepidopterists’ Society 48: 205-227.

8. Data management

Practical Moth Recording

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked (13)

Similar to Practical Moth Recording (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Practical Moth Recording

Editor's Notes