Museum of Nature
October 23, 2010
Moths at Large
I've decided to put some of the moth facts for some of the captions, since writting "a moth, another moth, etc" seemed boring.
exhibit description:
October 8, 2010, to January 9, 2011
Moths explode in colour and size in Moths at Large, an exhibition of more than 45 large-format photographs by Jim des Rivières.These extraordinary works reveal the diversity and astonishing beauty of moths from the Ottawa region. Visitors will be captivated by the detail, patterns and colours in the photographs.
The exhibition is complemented by more than 40 specimens from the photographer's collection. They are the same species as are shown in the photos.
a spotlight on moths
we've all caught fleeting glimpses of moths emerging from the darkness, but rarely do we get to see them up close.
ottawa photographer jim des rivières (www.moths.ca) has collected and photographed more than 300 different local species of moths. it's estimated that there are approximately 2000 moth species in the ottawa area.
every moth shown in this exhibit was collected in the national capital region. jim des rivières's work gives local residents a unique chance to discover a world that comes alive only once they're tucked in bed.
Is it a moth or a butterfly?
Differentiating the two isn’t that easy. There isn’t one single feature that distinguishes all moths from all butterflies.
Most moths: have feathery or thread-like antennae; thick, furry body; fly at night; hold their wings folded against their body when they rest.
Most butterflies: have knobs on the end of their antennas; have a slender body; are active during the day; hold their wings upright when they rest.
Moths outnumber butterflies 10 to 1.
there are approximately 235,000 species of moths worldwide, compared to 20,000 butterfly species.
Moths also have a longer history. Primitive moths appeared about 240 million years ago. Their daytime cousins evolved later – probably around 100 million years ago. The oldest butterfly fossil is about 48 million years old.
Do moths see colours in the dark?
Most animals including humans are colour-blind at night.
Moths have sensitive receptors that can detect colours in dim light.
Colourful scales – every part of a moth’s body is covered by thousands of tiny overlapping scales that create colourful patterns. Moths belong to the order Lepidoptera, which is named from Greek words for “scale wings”.
samantha called this one the heart moth, since the antenna are shapped like a heart
samantha called this one the key moth - since to her, the antenna looked like the keys of a maple tree.
so pretty
luna moth - male
luna moth - female
Loud patterns protect – large circles are not intended to resemble the eyes of larger animals as was previously thought. Studies show that large patterns (including circles and bars) protect moths from predators. It’s the visual “loudness” of the markings that startles or frightens enemies.
some moths can reach impressive proportions. the largest, the atlas moth has a wingspan of 25 to 30 centimeters.
(fyi - the above photo is not an atlas moth)
the smallest moths, often called microlepidoptera, are not as well studied as their larger cousins.
clothes moths belong to this group
samantha is trying to spot the moth on the tree trunk.
real versions of all the moths on display.
http://picasaweb.google.ca/jeem123/Cmn1024wSrgb100dpiJpg?feat=directlink#
(a gallery of all the photos in the exhibit -- not my photos)
next: Frogs – A Chorus of Colours »
menu generic photos of the grounds and building
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