Since this page was the last updated just 10 weeks ago several new projects have been undertaken. A library for photographs of genitalia of North American Moths is being added to the website. Mike Boone will be developing menus and a genitalia species page similar to the prototype seen here. The 2010 moth season is fast approaching. If you are deeply, seriously into moth photography you may want to consider assisting moth DNA research as a personal contribution to science and as an aid to the identification of species. It would be nice if we could show on this map the locations of moth photographers enrolled in this program.

Job Openings for Volunteers. Prior to operating from a database virtually all of the work required to make MPG function had to be done from a central computer. But it is now possible to assign several functions to volunteer Associate Editors, no matter where they happen to be. Here are some of the job descriptions open to volunteers:

Species Page Editors: Using a simple text data entry screen, supply information regarding distribution, flight period, host plants, etc., for a group of species. Information can be extracted from online sources, monographs and other publications. Published material will be supplied on loan for this purpose.

Large Photo Editors: Join Nolie Schneider in searching out suitable larger photos to grace the top of MPG species pages. Photographs may be found at BugGuide and other web sites. Get permissions where necessary. Trim and sharpen photos, upload to MPG. Edit species pages, using a simple data entry screen, to make the photos appear on them.

New Photo Editors: Monitor new postings at BugGuide, as well as the archives there and at other web sites, to find photos needed for MPG living moth plates and species pages. Get permissions as necessary, resize and sharpen photos, periodically upload batches of photos for further processing at MPG. Report names of new contributors to be added to the MPG Contacts Directory.

Larvae Editors: Specialize in building out the larvae side of MPG. There are thousands of excellent photographs already on the Internet (many at BugGuide) that need the attention of someone with a little time to contribute. In addition to the kinds of tasks mention above for new photos, an Associate Editor for Larvae could also maintain the separate database (an Excel table) at MPG that houses larvae data.

If you think that you might like to volunteer for any of these Associate Editor positions, please contact Bob Patterson at BPatter789@aol.com.

New Photographs Received.  You will find on the MPG Contributors Page several new entries. Ed Knudson and Charles Bordelon (Texas Lepidoptera Survey) have been sending in a substantial collection of the moths of Texas that were missing from our plates. Belatedly, we have the pleasure also to acknowledge collections contributed by Vernon A. Brou, Jr. (moths of Louisiana), from Chris Grinter (western moths), from Jeffrey C. Miller at Oregon State (moths of the northwest), and from Dan Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs a collection of Costa Rican Moths (species found also in North America).


Welcome New Contributors: Lyn Atherton (FL), Mark Ausley (FL), Charles Bordelon (TX), Lula Field (MA), Ty Fitzmorris (AZ), Dallas Hudson (MN), Ted Kropiewnicki (DE), Deb Lievens (NH), Larry McDaniel (TN), James McDermott (TX), Jennifer Seltzer (MS), Bob Sikora (CA), Carol Wolf (TN).


Got the Mothing Bug?  Add your photographs to the collaborative effort here at Moth Photographers Group and help build the photobase that helps everyone interested in moth identification. Please consider posting your moth photos at BugGuide where several people help to identify them. With your permission it is an easy matter to select photos there that are needed for MPG plates and species pages.


Are You a Moth Specialist? Add an entry in your CV by refereeing a family or subfamily here, and help build the accuracy of the photo library.