[tn-moths] Re: Concerning moth documentation...

  • From: Douglas Downs <douglas_downs@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: Tn-Moths <tn-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 22:13:27 -0500

I share the frustrations of Kris in trying to ID so many moths.  I am currently 
working through about 400 photos taken already this year and am suffering from 
moth overload, especially when I am also working with birds, butterflies, and 
odes.  I think most of us will just have to be patient, learn as we go along, 
and continue to post ID help requests, trusting the more educated to help us 
out.  I am finding that I am already getting better at knowing some instantly, 
finding others, narrowing to families for others, etc.  I think the simpler we 
keep things on the listserv the better off we will be for now.  If we get too 
narrow and demanding in our requirements, I fear it will discourage newcomers 
and learners -- the very thing we don't want to do.

Keep those pics and records coming.  I continue to update the state list and 
will likely post again sometime around July 1.  Will be interesting to see what 
has been added by then.

A quick question:  How long should we allow ID requests to remain posted 
without ID help before giving up and seeking help elsewhere (e.g. BugGuide)?

Doug Downs
Sparta, White County, TN

Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:46:16 +0000
From: klight10@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: tn-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tn-moths] Re: Concerning moth documentation...



Yikes! My inbox is crammed full of entries for butterflies and moths now, I 
imagine it would crash under its own weight if we added flowers, fungi and 
bugs!!! :-0 

Here's a wild suggestion, I wish there was some way newbies (like me) could use 
some kind of pattern-recognition program that could compare a member's 
photograph with a known moth and then give an answer to its identity. I am so 
overwhelmed by wading through thousands of photos on Bugguide, Moth 
Photographers, my Peterson's moth guide, and Larry and Audrey's photos! I'm 
getting so many moths that I can't find anywhere! 

On another note, I am planning to talk to the UT Arboretum folks in a couple of 
weeks about the possibility of doing a Moth Night there sometime this summer. 
The arboretum is in Oak Ridge. If this turns out to be a possibility, would any 
of the TN-Moth group be interested in helping out? If it does happen, I'll post 
the information on here. 

Noah Charney, the co-author of "Tracks and Sign of Invertebrate Animals" will 
be speaking at the American Museum of Science and Energy on July 17 at 1:00 
p.m. If you have not seen this book, it is excellent! It answers many of your, 
"What is that?" questions of things you encounter out in nature. 

Kris Light
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean Obrist" <innisfreehorses@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: tn-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 7:29:26 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [tn-moths] Re: Concerning moth documentation...

How about TN-wildflowers?   Right, Kris and Audrey?
Or TN-shrooms?   Fungi of all sorts.  Well, maybe not bread mold.  LOL
Jean obrist
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Avian Pursuits Nature Tours 
  To: tn-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 7:18 PM
  Subject: [tn-moths] Re: Concerning moth documentation...


  I agree we don't need any 'rules'. I just mentioned that to describe the page 
I was trying to think of...like a FAQ page. I agree that things are going well 
with this list. My suggestion is for something on the FAQ or "How To" page to 
have info about how to submit records for moths, both First Of Year and county 
records. Best to have a simple checklist of information that should be included 
with each record. Think of what someone signing on for the first time would 
want to know about the list and what to do with his/her moth records.
  Sound right?


  ....wondering what the next TN-xxxxx listserve will be.....TN-Bugs?


  David Trently 
  Avian Pursuits Nature Tours 
  ...come see the real world!
  Knoxville, TN 
  http://avianpursuits.com/





------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: Larry McDaniel <larrycmcd@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  To: tn-moths <tn-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  Sent: Wed, June 9, 2010 7:05:49 PM
  Subject: [tn-moths] Re: Concerning moth documentation...

  David,
   
  I am the administrator of tn-moths. I never set up a how to page. I've been 
letting things flow and it seems to being going okay. I'm not sure what rules I 
would use at this time. Nor have I looked at the web page option. I'm open to 
the idea of pursuing this. I would like to hear from others. My opinion is 
things are okay the way they are, I've belonged to several listservs and I 
never used a how to page, but I'm happy to make changes as the group sees fit.
   
  Larry McDaniel
  Johnson City, TN
   

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 06:56:06 -0700
  From: naturetours@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: [tn-moths] Concerning moth documentation...
  To: tn-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


  After reading J. N. Howard's note asking about requirements for 
documentation, I went to the TN-Moths site on the FreeLists website to look to 
see if there was information about the 'rules' for this listserve, and/or 
information about documenting moths. I didn't find anything. Some lists (not 
sure if this includes those on FreeLists) have a place where this kind of 
information can be placed. I think I recall it for TN-Butterflies...but I 
wasn't able to find that either.
  Is there such a page for TN-Moths? If not, it looks like the list 
administrator can set up a web page for the list. It could include information 
about how to document sightings (even though this list is not just about 
documentation)


  Am I just not finding this info?

  David Trently 
  Avian Pursuits Nature Tours 
  ...come see the real world!
  Knoxville, TN 
  http://avianpursuits.com/ 


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