By far the largest and oldest group in the order Lepidoptera, moths are usually overshadowed by their flashier cousins, the butterflies. But they are finally getting their due in Winged Tapestries: Moths at Large, a photo exhibition featured at the Museum.
“Few people realize that butterflies are moths,” says David Grimaldi, curator in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology, who oversaw the exhibition. “It is very important to dispel the artificial and unnatural distinction between butterflies and moths. Butterflies are merely a small, recently evolved line of day-flying moths. Saying there are two categories of Lepidoptera is like saying there are trees and there are maples."
Primitive moths appeared about 195 million years ago, whereas the oldest butterfly fossil is about 55 million years old. Today, moths outnumber butterflies 15 to 1, with approximately 150,000 described species of moths worldwide, compared to 10,000 butterfly species.
Accompanying the photo exhibition, which originated at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, are specimens from the Museum’s collection. With some 3.5 million specimens, the Museum’s collection of moths and butterflies is among the five largest in the world.
In the exhibit, 34 large-format images, scanned at a very high resolution by Ottawa-based photographer Jim des Rivières, reveal moths, however small, to be striking in their diversity and eye-catching detail. While moths tend to be less brightly colored, they often exhibit more complex patterns, intricate paisleys and tweeds.
“Although people can still see plenty of lovely live species at the Museum,” says Dr. Grimaldi, referring to The Butterfly Conservatory, “in this photo show, we have macro or relatively large moths. They’re gorgeous and fairly common species in North America.” In contrast to diurnal butterflies, which are thought to warn off predators or attract mates with their brilliance, moths are camouflaged to function at night. “Butterflies are conspicuous,” Grimaldi says. “They advertise themselves. Moths don’t.”
The presentation of Winged Tapestries: Moths at Large is made possible by the generosity of the Arthur Ross Foundation.
Lord & Taylor is the proud sponsor of The Butterfly Conservatory.