Beautifully Exotic Looking Species of Moths from Ottawa

Great Tiger Moth (8166 - Arctia caja americana) wingspread 56 mm Collected by Jim des Rivieres, Camp Fortune, Quebec - Aug. 9, 2004 Scanned August 14, 2004 Epson 4870 at 4800 dpi (600dpi ref) - Noise Ninja 1.2 ?%

Canadian photographer Jim des Riviéres has produced a collection of large-format prints displaying “the arresting beauty and surprising diversity of moths from the Ottawa region.” Having catalogued nearly 300 different species from the 2,000 specimens he's caught, des Riviéres has grown to not only appreciate the beauty of these winged creature through his art practice, but also learned more about them.

The photographer's fascination with moths was first discovered while he was two years into his photographic obsession with butterflies. Upon discovering moths as an equally beautiful species with a much larger population (about 10 times that of butterflies in the Ottawa area), he switched his focus. He even says, “[M]any of our moths are bigger and more colorful than our butterflies.”

Traveling up to 50 miles out of urban Ottawa, equipped with only a few supplies including a black fluorescent light to attract the moths, des Riviéres would play the waiting game to catch his fuzzy little multi-patterned subjects. Having relocated to a small cottage deep in the forest, he now sets up a trap for moths just outside his residence, which he can check up on throughout the day. You can read much more about his process over on Co.Design.

A selection of images from the photographer's collection is currently on display in an exhibit titled Winged Tapastries: Moths at Large at The American Museum of Natural History in New York through September 29, 2013.

Wingspread 35 mm. Collected at Lac Bonin, Quebec on September 6, 2007.

Io Moth (7746 - Automeris io) wingspread 64 mm Collected by Jim des Rivieres, Crosby, Ontario - June 7, 2004 Scanned June 11, 2004 Noise Ninja 305% r=1.2 Epson 4870 at 4800 dpi

Wingspread 42mm. Collected July 12, 2011 at Wascana Park, Regina, SK

Wingspread 42 mm. Collected at Lac Bonin, Quebec on May 23, 2007.

Wingspread 47 mm. Collected at Lac Bonin, Quebec on September 8, 2006.

1082124041

Cecropia Moth (7767 - Hyalophora cecropia). Wingspread 138 mm. Collected at Crosby, Ontario on June 7, 2004. Scanned on Epson 4870 at 3600 dpi. Noise Ninja 305% r=1.2

8-Jim des Riviéres

The Beggar Moth (7440 - Eubaphe mendica) wingspread 23 mm Collected July 3, 2006 at Lac Bonin, Quebec Scanned July 5, 2006 Epson 4870 at 4800 dpi (600dpi ref) Noise Ninja 1.2 305%

Imperial Moth (7704 - Eacles imperalis pini) Female. Wingspread 118 mm. Collected at Norway Lake, Onratio on July 15, 2002.

Comstock's Sallow Moth (10008 - Feralia comstocki) wingspread 37 mm Collected May 7, 2006 at Lac Bonin, Quebec Scanned May 12, 2006 Epson 4870 at 4800 dpi (600dpi ref) Noise Ninja 1.2 305%

Great Tiger Moth (8166 - Arctia caja americana) wingspread 69 mm Collected July 28, 2006 at Lac Bonin, Quebec Scanned July 31, 2006 Epson 4870 at 4800 dpi (600dpi ref) Noise Ninja 1.2 305%

Wingspread 42 mm. Collected July 30, 2011 at Chemainus, BC

Isabella Tiger Moth (8129 - Pyrrharctia isabella) wingspread 51 mm Collected by Jim des Rivieres, QUBS and Crosby, Ontario - June 7, 2004 Scanned June 13, 2004 Epson 4870 at 4800 dpi NoiseNinja 305% 1.2

Once-Married Underwing Moth (8805 - Catocala unijuga) wingspread 83 mm Collected July 22, 2006 at Lac Bonin, Quebec Scanned July 25, 2006 Epson 4870 at 4800 dpi (600dpi ref) Noise Ninja 1.2 305%

Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth (7292 - Rheumaptera prunivorata) wingspread 36 mm Collected by Jim des Rivieres, Norway Lake, Ontario - July 17, 2004 Scanned July 21, 2004 Epson 4870 at 4800 dpi (600dpi ref) - Noise Ninja 1.2 305%

Length 23 mm. Collected at Lac Bonin, Quebec on July 11, 2008.

Length 26 mm. Collected at Lac Bonin, Quebec on June 20, 2008.

Jim des Riviéres: Website
via [Co.Design]

Pinar

Pinar Noorata is the Managing Editor at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College and is an alumni of the Center for Arts Education’s Career Development Program in NYC. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching movies, reading, crafting, drawing, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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