Tiny Illinois moth needs name

[trehopr1]

I don't catch but, a few of the small fry that
arrive at my porch light in the summer. However,
every now and again something will light and
surprise me with its beauty.

This past summer this little "sparkler" was at
the light so, I caught it and field pinned it,
then propped it wings up on a flat plane for
later preparation.

I feel I stand a better chance of working with it
when it has not been papered or had its wings folded
closed like a butterfly (or fold down like a lycaenid).

So without having ANY idea what it could be maybe somebody
could inform me. Preferably, family and then species if
possible.



By the way, I have had pretty good success so far by propping up the wings
of small fry for later preparation when I cannot get to them right away.
Their wings lie natural so the wings move up fairly easily.

[leptraps]

Your moth is a Geometridae: Heliomata cycladata #6261. It is a rather common Geometrid moth here in Northeast Ohio. It was a common moth in Kentucky as well.

[trehopr1]

Thank you indeed leptraps for that species det.

I figured that you would know it.

Do you collect Geometridae ?

Because, if you do I think you would need another
76 years just to collect a fair measure of the N. Amer. species

There are just SO many species if them here...

[leptraps]

At one time I collected all North American Lepidoptera with the exception of Microlepidoptera. And even then not all Microlepidoptera. I still collect Sessidae and several obscure families of Microlepidoptera.

Some of my favorite families of moths all Erebidae, Plusinae. Heliothinae (Schinia), and Grotellini. And I almost forgot, Sessidea.

I enjoy seeing the collections and/or specimens of others. I have also learned a great deal about the Lepidoptera from around the world.

And then there is Leptraps, which by the way, is "For Sale".