Dominick Collection Moths

Carectocultus dominicki

Lesser-photographed North American Moth Species

From the R. B. Dominick Collection at The University of South Carolina

The Richard B. Dominick moth and butterfly collection is remarkable for two features: (a) virtually all specimens (25,215 moths and 1,758 butterflies) were collected within the confines of a single 1,400 acre property and (b) Dr. Dominick prepared the specimens such that they are nearly perfect. (For details concerning the Wedge Plantation and Dr. Dominick's passionate studies of the Lepidoptera, click HERE.)

Many of North America's most eminent lepidopterists visited the plantation and studied the collection. A number of quite rare species were found on the property. Thus, the collection remains an extremely valuable resource.

Although much progress is being made toward providing good photos of North American moths on the World-Wide Web (click HERE for one such resource), some species' photos are yet to be posted. With this in mind, I visited the Dominick collection (currently housed within the Department of Biology of The University of South Carolina) to fill in some of these blanks or to add a photograph.

I am grateful to Dr. Richard Vogt for providing access to the collection.

John Snyder
Dept. of Biology, Furman University

To view any of the species listed below, click on its name.

Family Tineidae

Nemapogon acapnopennella
Nemapogon rileyi
Homostinea curviliniella
Cephitinea obscurostrigella
Amidria arizonella
Acrolophus forbesi
Niditinea spretella

Family Psychidae

Prochalia pygmaea

Family Lyonetiidae

Bucculatrix needhami

Family Gracillariidae

Caloptilia paradoxa

Family Oecophoridae