Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois
13 October 2005
The front wings of underwing moths often look very similar among different species. So in order to identify them, I either coax the moth to open its wings by disturbing it, or gently lift one front wing, as you see in these photos. The hind wing can provide some key identification features.
Note the dates of these photos. Underwings are mostly late summer to autumn moths, although some smaller ones seem to have two generations per summer.
All of these are about 2.5 to 3.5 inch wingspans.
Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois
17 August 2009
This is the only underwing with black hind wings that I have found here so far in the Chicago area.
Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois
11 September 2009
Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois
1 September 2006
For the several years after this photo was taken (during 2007 and 2008), the yellow-banded underwing was the one that I most often encountered at Fermilab.
Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois
1 September 2006
Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois
2 September 2009
This is a fairly common underwing in late summer and early fall at Fermilab. According to "A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America," by Charles V. Covell, Jr., a key identification feature is the presence of the dark rays on the forewing near the apex, near the body and parallel to the trailing edge.
Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois
13 September 2006
This strikingly beautiful underwing moth has a unique purplish tint on the front wings. It is common at Fermilab.