Peterson "Field Guide to Moths of North...America"

I also obtained this book as a reference compliment to the Covell book. I listed the following things I liked and disliked about the book below.

has large array of photographs of a large sampling of species

the maps are blotchy at best. Instead of just cutting off a corner of the map, put the whole eastern USA/eastern Canada and show the range. The maps look suggestive of the range, but I thought they could avoided cutting off so much. Example: pg 274, map for Furcula cinerea......just how much farther south and west does this moth fly? The bottom of the map is sliced right through some of the green showing its range as is the western edge at left.

While the photos are good, I really miss seeing the HW. With many moths, it is the HW that has whatever features/wing patterns needed for identification. They illustrate the moths in a more natural pose which is good, but I would have liked to see a mounted one (even a thumbnail image) of the mounted specimen.

I liked the true-to-size shadow images showing the actual sizes.

Mentioning the larval host foodplant was beneficial.

Since I bought this book with the idea of serving as an ID help, I personally find the need for curation coverage not that important. I'd rather see a mounted specimen beside the natural pose and more map detail/fullness.

Is the book worth the money? Yes for sure. I found many unidentified moths that I collected in the drawers waiting for IDing using it.

Incidently, its ISBN # is 978-0-547-23848-7 by David Beadle and Seabrooke Leckie.

The Peterson Field Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America was printed in 1984 and revised in 2004(?). I seldom use it as I prefer the Moth Photographers website: mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/

It is a great tool for working with moths.