The moth members of this Order of insects include a large number of diverse families. Moth groups include micro moths, leaf miners, clothes moths, plume moths, ermine moths, burnets, geometrids, silk moths, sphinx moths, tiger moths, wasp moths, noctuids, underwings and many others.

Tortricid moths have square-tipped forewings and resemble a shield at rest. Their caterpillars protect themselves by rolling leaves which they then sealed with silk. Itzpápalotl was the Chichimec mother goddess, later adopted by the Aztec and Mayan civilization. In ancient Mexican culture, Itzpápalotl meant obsidian butterfly. Butterflies have been associated with the soul and obsidian was the material used in human sacrificial blades. Through death, the human soul was liberated from it’s earthly, physical bounds.

The butterfly members of this Order of insects include the popular and usually colorful species. Butterfly groups include monarchs, satyrs, dagerwings, leaf-wings, owls, buckeyes, admirals, checkerspots, crecents, fritillaries, heliconids, riodinids, blues, hairstreaks, coppers, whites, orange-tips, sulphurs and swallowtails.

This tiny tropical riodinid butterfly from Brazil feeds on epiphylls that grow on the surfaces of vascular plant leaves, especially bromeliads and orchids. Its legs are covered with a dense layer of hair and the underwings, shown here, have stiking coloration and metalic qualities.

The skipper members of this Order of insects are generally small and characterized by fast flight. Their wing venation and widely separated, curve-tipped antennae, also distinguish this group. Skippers are divided into giant skipper, grass skipper, shrub skipper and mimic skipper families.

Differentiated from true butterflies or a moths, skippers are characterized by their stout bodies, short wings, large heads and curve tipped antennae. Members of this group exhibit rapid, powerful and erratic flight. Tropical species can often be tempted to land on leaves baited with white tissue wads resembling bird droppings. Some species have beautiful iridescent coloration and long hind-wing tails.

The butterfly members of this Order of insects include the popular and usually colorful species. Butterfly groups include monarchs, satyrs, dagerwings, leaf-wings, owls, buckeyes, admirals, checkerspots, crecents, fritillaries, heliconids, riodinids, blues, hairstreaks, coppers, whites, orange-tips, sulphurs and swallowtails.

Mud puddling is one of the favorite pastime of these male Ascia butterflies. After rain, they congregate on muddy banks of river and glean minerals for their frantic mating activities. I found several hundred of these butterflies at the roadside. These tropical Pierids belong to the same family as the common cabbage white butterflies. Many whites incorporate other coloration such as yellows and reds which they derived from their own waste products.

The moth members of this Order of insects include a large number of diverse families. Moth groups include micro moths, leaf miners, clothes moths, plume moths, ermine moths, burnets, geometrids, silk moths, sphinx moths, tiger moths, wasp moths, noctuids, underwings and many others.

Insects usual alien demeanor is often softened by adaptational features. In this case the endearing and almost human-like characteristics of this extremely hairy moth, make it more relatable. Several insect inspired characters including Jimminy Cricket have taken on rolls as teachers. Rodney Matthews, a masterful fantasy illustrator, used a similar moth to promote a folk-rock band appropriately named Tiger Moth.

The moth members of this Order of insects include a large number of diverse families. Moth groups include micro moths, leaf miners, clothes moths, plume moths, ermine moths, burnets, geometrids, silk moths, sphinx moths, tiger moths, wasp moths, noctuids, underwings and many others.

Cryptic forewings for camouflage against bark during the day yet when disturbed, they flash their bright disorienting colored underwings as a second line of defense. The Noctuid family of moths generally have thin antennae and hold their wings roof like over their bodies at rest. Most people stereotype moths as drab creatures of the night in comparison to their daylight relatives, the butterflies, that epitomize beauty in nature. There are some commonly encountered moths that are rather drab but many moths have coloration that rival and surpass butterfly species

The moth members of this Order of insects include a large number of diverse families. Moth groups include micro moths, leaf miners, clothes moths, plume moths, ermine moths, burnets, geometrids, silk moths, sphinx moths, tiger moths, wasp moths, noctuids, underwings and many others.

The Sesiidae family of moths are notorious for their ability to mimic wasps. Through physical and behavior mimicry, they gain protection by an association with a more formidable insect. This moth looked like, flew like and even sounded like a wasp until the lure of the minerals in a roadside puddle, tempted a landing and its muted moth characteristics became more apparent. Mimicry is common in the insect world where you find mantids looking like lichen and moths who pass for tarantulas.

The moth members of this Order of insects include a large number of diverse families. Moth groups include micro moths, leaf miners, clothes moths, plume moths, ermine moths, burnets, geometrids, silk moths, sphinx moths, tiger moths, wasp moths, noctuids, underwings and many others.

The waxy and transparent scales of this Sesiid moth simulate the membranous wings of the wasps they mimic. Special interlocking spines link the hind and forewings together, allowing for behaviorally stylized flight characteristics that simulate a wasp in flight. Lepidoptera means “scale-wing.” The amazing variety of designs on the wings of butterflies and moths are achieved through various pigments, structures and shapes of the tiny scales that cover their wing surfaces. These scales easily dislodge upon touch and their “dust” has been the source of folklore. The Yaqui Indians in Carlos Casteneda’s books believe moths to be the heralds and guardians of eternity, with knowledge coming like specs of gold “dust.”

The butterfly members of this Order of insects include the popular and usually colorful species. Butterfly groups include monarchs, satyrs, dagerwings, leaf-wings, owls, buckeyes, admirals, checkerspots, crecents, fritillaries, heliconids, riodinids, blues, hairstreaks, coppers, whites, orange-tips, sulphurs and swallowtails.

Sometimes no bigger that 3/8″ the Western Pygmy Blue is the smallest butterfly in the western United States. Although fairly common, many people probably walk right by these delicate blues because of their tiny size and dainty, low to the ground flight. This specimen was found in the salt march area of San Francisco. Adults work their way north during the Summer months. Blue-green eggs hatch into light green caterpillars that feed on pickleweed, saltbush and pigweed. The inner portions of the top wing surfaces are metallic blue. This low-altitude butterfly was introduced to Hawaii around 1979.

The butterfly members of this Order of insects include the popular and usually colorful species. Butterfly groups include monarchs, satyrs, dagerwings, leaf-wings, owls, buckeyes, admirals, checkerspots, crecents, fritillaries, heliconids, riodinids, blues, hairstreaks, coppers, whites, orange-tips, sulphurs and swallowtails.

An early morning trek to a specific meadow in the Owens Valley of California provided a glimpse at this indigenous subspecies population of Western Steep Fritillary. The cool early morning mountain air slow down these beautiful fritillary butterflies as they sip nectar from thistles. These butterflies exhibit sexual dimorphism meaning the male and female butterflies look different. This orange form is the male and was abundant in comparison to the black and yellow-green females. Caterpillars feed on blue violet and over winter shortly after hatching. Adults have a single brood each year and fly from June to September.