moths

[BrianRFG at aol.com]

Hi,
    My take on this moth identification problem is first, the availability of 
good color photos of moths in natural resting positions is very limited (as 
Steve Walter has said) and we should all be very grateful for his pictures 
and hope that others will be forthcoming before too long from other insect 
photographers; and second, there are so many moths out there that are not 
pictured in Covell's field guide that it is staggering (often many, many 
distressingly similar species). You find a perfectly lovely bright green, 
day-flying moth in the field and look in Covell for the choices but then go 
to the volumes of The Moths of North America North of Mexico and good god, 
there are pages of them. I do not believe in capturing moths or butterflies 
to identify them (this is not an editorial, just a statement) so I guess I'll 
muddle through and hope that more photos and i.d. tips will be forthcoming. 
And thanks to all of you who help us with moths.
    Brian Cassie