For the most part,
Micromoths are very small, with wingspans of less than 1/2 inch. Many are nocturnal. We had the fortune of having David Reed, an expert photographer who focuses on these small moths, visit and photograph many of them shown here. So even though most would not be seen often by visitors to our two nature centers during daylight, we include them here to document the diversity of moths present. We subdivide them into
Crambid Moths (
Crambidae), which roll up their narrow wings at rest;
Tortricid Moths (Tortricidae), a large, varied
family of moths, many of which have flared or squared forewings;
Pyralid Moths (Pyralidae), which hold their wings out to the side, fold them flat or roll them up to make their bodies look like sticks;
Twirler Moths (Gelechiidae) a large family of small and very small moths with upward-pointing labial palps that curve over the head, and
Other Micromoths for the remainder. The
Pyralid Moth family is the third largest in North America.