11 Amazing Facts About Moths (PHOTOS)

For the longest time, moths have taken a back seat to their more glamorous cousins, the butterflies.

However, in recent years, it seems more people are tuning in the "darker" side of Lepidoptera and becoming aware of the beauty and charisma of moths. It might seem like getting to know the moths in your area would be an uphill task: it's true, there are usually at least ten times the number of moths as butterflies present in an area, and they are mostly nocturnal. However, there are now many excellent resources available to the budding "moth'er."

When Seabrooke Leckie and I decided to write the new Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America it was very much with the beginner in mind. We wanted to produce a guide that concentrated on the most likely species to be encountered and present the information in a user-friendly way.

Over time it is our hope that this guide will spark new interest in this fascinating group of insects. Although most of the moths featured in our guide are common, many species are becoming increasingly scarce because of habitat loss and pesticide use. We hope that more people can become aware of the moths in their area and realize that looking at moths can be fun, for young and old alike.

Step aside butterfly, there's a new moth in town!

All photos courtesy of David Beadle.