Luna Moths & Woolly Bears

[Kenelm Philip]

	I don't know which bug book Richard Molay is using, but I find its
claim that the Luna Moth is an endangered species rather odd, for two
reasons: 1) As of 1993, this species was not on the U.S. endangered species
list, and 2) in Covell's 'Field Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America'
the species is described as 'common throughout our area'. I suspect the
'endangered' status of the Luna Moth is another legend like the 'protected'
status of the Praying Mantis.

	With regard to Molay's common name for _Pyrrharctia_ (formerly
_Isia_) _isabella_, both Holland's Moth Book and Covell call this the
'Isabella Tiger Moth'. On the other hand, common names of moths have never
been standardized, so if someone wants to call it the 'Banded Woolly Bear              
Caterpillar Moth' I presume one can.  After all, most people in Alaska and
the Yukon call Tiger Swallowtails 'Monarchs'! However, when Molay says:
"It would be nice if the adult moth had a more formal name, but facts are
facts.", it appears a more formal name is indeed available.

							Ken Philip
fnkwp at aurora/alaska.edu