[ncsc-moths] Re: Question and ID request
- From: "parker backstrom" <dpbackstrom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:26:20 -0500
Lois -
If I might add one thing, I suspect that most people check only the live
plates on MPG (those buttons on the right side of the plate series page)
when they're trying to match a photo they've taken with one on MPG. I did
that for a long time too without realizing that a lot of species aren't
represented by live specimens but are shown in spread specimens. Those
plates aren't as easy to use but if you scroll through the pages using the
buttons on the far left side of the page you will see a whole bunch more
moths that you might not otherwise see.
Good mothing.
Parker
_____
From: ncsc-moths-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ncsc-moths-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of J. Merrill Lynch
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 8:12 PM
To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ncsc-moths] Re: Question and ID request
Lois et al,
I think I can answer your question about the numbering system. It was
developed and published by Hodges back in 1983. Since that time a number of
new species have been discovered and described. Instead of coming up with a
new numbering system, the scientific community has decided to use decimals
to add these new species, inserting them in the proper phylogenetic order as
much as possible.
In the case of Lithophane joannis, this species was described in the '90's
and is believed to be closely related to L. petulca. Joannis is not well
known, although it is not uncommon in places where it's food plant, buckeye
(Aesculus) is common. In the case of MPG and Bugguide, no one has submitted
a picture to them yet which is why it doesn't show up on the live plates (I
guess I should send them a photo!).
Species are continually being added to the Bugguide and MPG pages as folks
contribute photos.
Merrill
On Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 5:44 PM, Lois Stacey <croakie@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I've been looking at Merrill's pictures to try and pin down some of my
moths, at least to give me an area to look for those I have trouble with on
MPG (I know they may not be the same as our habitats are so different). In
doing that, Merrill has some species that I can't find on MPG, usually with
a decimal and number after the Hodges number. My question is how to know
these species/subspecies exist if they're not on MPG? The first pic below is
the one that keyed me to this. On Merrill's page he has 9893.2 L. joannis. I
can't find this on MPG or bugguide to compare pictures with mine to see if
they match (it appears to match Merrill's fairly closely).
Second, I'm attaching a picture that I have tentatively identified as
Roland's Sallow, 10014 - Psaphida rolandi . Any other suggestons?
Thanks.
--
Lois Stacey
North Augusta, SC (Aiken Cnty)
www.augustaaikenaudubon.org <http://www.augustaaikenaudubon.org/>
Find Augusta-Aiken Audubon on Facebook
--
J. Merrill Lynch
Echo Valley Farm
Watauga County, NC
Elevation: 3,400 feet
Other related posts:
