Moth Matters Exhibit - References on Moths Return to the Moth Matters Home
Moth Matters Exhibit Navigational Menu Attracting Moths to Your Backyard Viewing Moths in Your Backyard Rearing Caterpillars Moth Identification Attraction to Light Miller Moths Activities for Kids and Families Resources for Teachers Return to the Moth Matters Exhibit Home

Books on Moths

  • The Moth Book: A Guide to the Moths of North America by W.J. Holland, 1903.
  • A Field Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America: The Peterson Field Guide Series by C.V. Covell, Jr., 1984 (out of print and very expensive).
  • Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths by P.A. Opler (Author), A.B. Wright (Illustrator), R.T. Peterson (Editor), 1994.
  • Butterflies and Moths: A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press by R.T. Mitchell (Author), H.S. Zim (Author), A. Durenceau (Illustrator), 1987.
  • Eyewitness: Butterfly & Moth (Eyewitness Books) by P.E. Sutton Whalley, K. Taylor (Photographer), D. King (Photographer), 1996.
  • Night Visions: The Secret Designs of Moths by J. Scheer, 2003.
  • Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard by J. Himmelman, 2002. (Moths in a Connecticut Yard).
  • Moths and How to Rear Them by P. Villiard, 1969.

Books on Caterpillars

  • Peterson First Guide to Caterpillars of North America by A.B. Wright (Author), R.T. Peterson (Editor), 1993.
  • Caterpillars of Eastern Forests by D.L. Wagner, V. Giles, R.C. Reardon, and M.L. McManus, 1997 (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. FHTET-96-34). Web version.
  • Caterpillars of Pacific Northwest Forests and Woodlands by J.C. Miller, 1995. (FHM-NC-06-95. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, National Center of Forest Health Management). Web version.
  • Geometrid Caterpillars of Northeastern and Appalachian Forests by D.L. Wagner, D.C. Ferguson, T.L. McCabe, and R.C. Reardon, 2001 (United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team).

Videos on Moths and Caterpillars

  • John Acorn, the "Nature Nut," provides an entertaining educational experience in his "Moths" video. He explores different ways to view moths (blacklighting, sugaring, etc). In his "Caterpillars" video he shows how to find, identify, and raise caterpillars. These can be purchased through Bioquip.

Online Resources

Moths

Caterpillars

Moth Identification Tools

Black Lights or Mercury Vapor Lighting

Sugaring (use CAUTION if you live in bear country)

Rearing Caterpillars

Other Useful Websites