Is this all academic fuss over the moths, or do any of the species have economic importance?

Unfortunately, many of the moths have economic importance (unfortunate and economically important because they adversely affect important crops/trees). My guess is the worst ones don't belong in the US in the first place.

Cydia pomonella (codling moth) is probably the most well known example since it is the caterpillar you don't want to find half of in your apple. ;) Book points out that the moth was introduced from Eurasia (so were apples, right?). "Females lay eggs singly on fruits, stems, or leaves of the host. Larvae overwinter under tree bark and pupate in the spring."

Cydia latiferreana (filbertworm) is a North American moth. The cat feeds inside nuts. Pest of cultivated filberts and hazelnuts. The moths are "extremely variable" and "constitute a species complex," a phrase I had not seen before reading this book. The book says somebody named Heinrich figured out there are seven forms of this moth.

Cydia caryana (hickory shuckworm) was only found in the eastern US but has been able to spread all the way to New Mexico despite efforts to stop it. "Inflicts considerable damage on pecan crops."

Grapholita molesta (oriental fruit moth) was introduced from Japan. Primarily affects peach growers. "Early instar larvae burrow into the shoots, and later instars feed in fruits. Three generations develop in the North, six or seven in the South."

Rhyacionia buoliana (European pine shoot moth) is not from around here, as its common name implies. Was introduced early last century. One of the biggest moths in the book at 11 mm. "Early instars mine needle bases; the third and fourth instars feed in buds and pass the winter under a shelter of pitch. Bud and shoot feeding resumes in the spring." Their feeding results in "disfigurement of young trees, particularly in plantations" so that is why Christmas tree growers would not like them.

Zeiraphera canadensis (spruce bud moth) is one of those rare lepidoptera that overwinters as an egg. "Larvae hatch in spring as buds start to burst" and "begin feeding on developing needles under broken budcaps." What I found interesting is for many years entomologists thought the moth was Z. ratzeburgiana, a moth introduced from Europe. In 1966, a couple guys figured out it was a distinct species found only in Canada and northern US.

So there is a taste of economically important moths covered in the book.

Well that is quite a taste. The comment about overwintering eggs prompts me to mention a recent OPB Oregon Field Guide segment about the Pine White butterfly. An outbreak has occurred in recent years in the Blue Mountains of Oregon, largely defoliating 400 square miles of conifers. Not much logging done around here anymore, so the economic importance is less.

I don't remember hearing about pine whites before. I see that outbreaks of them are expected but not very often (every 30 to 50 years).

I currently have two more lepidoptera books from Ohio Biological Survey to review. Don't know when I'll get around to it. They are purchases so I'm not in a rush like I was with the library's book. One is on Ohio slug caterpillars (probably more about the moths that come from caterpillars). I looked up the skiff moth in the book since I got to raise one. I was surprised to learn they are abundant in Ohio.

On Saturday, I went to the open house at the OSU Museum of Biological Diversity. This is where Ohio State houses its insect collection. I met the guy who wrote the immature stages part of this book. Weird part is his name is not on the cover but is instead on the first page of that part of the book. He also told me about which pictures he took but my brain did not bother to file that info. :( We swapped info because he is looking for help on an RSP project. I'm sure hoping I see more RSPs this year than last year or I'll be zero help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Steve Passoa