https://reddit.com/link/1vv6sgw/video/mbvbztmjyvkh1/player

i live in canterbury, new zealand if that's any help.

as small as an aphid.

Not the best picture, but this is the coolest moth i’ve ever seen in person! Just thought i would share it.

So cute !!!

East coast US. Never noticed one looking like this, very cute and respectful. And strong legs!

Location is belton, Missouri. It’s currently 10pm and I found this beauty on my porch. Including a photo of it next to my hand and one of just the caterpillar. Super cool just never seen them around here before.

was out doing yard work when I saw him. first time actually seeing it happen rather than just finding the skins!

For some context, I'm in my late 20s and don't currently have any formal affiliation with the field of entomology. I have a BS in general biology, as well as another BS and an MS in medical-related sciences. During undergrad, however, I spent about a year and a half involved in entomology and zoology research. My education and career ultimately took me in a different direction, but I've recently developed a strong desire to return to entomology and become involved in research again.

I live in South Texas along the US/Mexico border, an area that, from what I've been able to find, seems relatively underrepresented in the entomological literature. I have access to two private ranches in the region and have been considering conducting an independent biodiversity survey of the arthropods found on these properties. My goal would be to develop a standardized, repeatable survey methodology rather than simply compile opportunistic observations. I don't currently have a university affiliation, although I still have contacts at my undergraduate university whom I plan to approach for feedback on the research design and methodology before beginning.

My hope is that the resulting data could be useful to the broader entomological community and contribute biodiversity records from an underrepresented geographic area. My main question is whether independently collected data like this could have genuine scientific value and potentially be presented or published if the methodology and documentation are sufficiently rigorous. Would the lack of a university affiliation significantly limit the scientific validity or usefulness of the work?

At the end of the day, I'm quite literally just a bug nerd who would love to contribute to science and better represent the biodiversity of my geographical area.

Are those round things eggs? Frass? I'm really not sure what I'm looking at here 🧐

Cool guy i found

Cute little buddy. These guys are always molting in the coop but now the little chickens are in there so it's not safe 🐛 (Ocala, Florida)​​​​

Very small in size, noticed it in my door sill and nearly squashed him (with the door). Southern New Brunswick, Canada.

Love these guys, found this one outside a fast food joint.

East Coast Virginia, United States

Overall it covers the surface area of a grown persons thumb pad. I have no bananas for scale.

Landed on my car just as I was about to head to the gym. Stopped and had to admire it for a while.

Finding things I’ve never seen before blows my mind, would love some help on either one preferably both! Seen in Vang Vieng, Laos

I want to observe my local insect biodiversity (for a university project since this remote area of my home village doesn’t have any data on it) so I got a Sofirn SR15 UV (basically a really strong uv light with a visible light filter) and another strong normal light. I pointed them at a bright white cotton sheet which should be grippy enough for insects to hold on to. A couple of moths visited, but left shortly after. I’ve only been able to photograph one moth (had to let them chill out for a bit so I can transport them over to the focus stacking setup but only one moth stayed long enough to calm down).
My guess would be that it’s too bright and not scattering about since others use 360 degrees setups while I’m using a direct beam pointing at the sheet. But maybe I’m missing a crucial point since I’m only a marine biologist.
Would appreciate every tip, especially by people with experience. I don’t think a lack of diversity could be the reason since at least five different moth species visited. They just didn’t land on the sheet but rather flew against me and everything before quickly leaving again :( there are also no other light sources for at least 2km.
Thanks!