Arctiidae 

• antennae filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• Tympanum organ on abdomen absent (or located on thorax)
• frenulum present and tympanal organ on metathorax
• body usually brightly colored

Geometridae

• antenna filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged 
• frenulum usually present 
• tympanal organ present on ab sternite 1
• palp minute, proboscis bare, wing broad and delicate

Hesperiidae

• antenna threadlike with tip clubbed, frenulum absent
• antennal club hooked
• distance between bases of antennae greater than diameter of eye; usually small and stout bodied

Lycaenidae

• antennae threadlike with tip clubbed
• antennae close together
• front legs often reduced 
• antennal base and eye contiguos

Lymantriidae

• antennae filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• tympanal organ on abdomen absent (or located on thorax)
• frenulum present and tympanal organ on metathorax
• body dull, usually brown
• Sc+R of hindwing fused to Rs near base, then diverging 
• proboscis reduced, ocelli absent, antennae bipectinate

Noctuidae

• antennae filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• tympanal organ on abdomen absent (or located on thorax)
• frenulum present and tympanal organ organ on metathorax
• body dull, usually brown
• Sc+R of hindwings fused to Rs near base, then diverging
•  Proboscis well developed, ocelli present, antennae simple to bipectinate

Notodontidae

• antennae filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• tympanal organ on abdomen absent (or located on thorax)
• frenulum present and tympanal organ on metathorax
• body dull, usually brown
• Sc+R of hindwing prallel to Rs

Nymphalidae

• antennae threadlike with tip clubbed
• antennae close together
• fore tibia with spur
• front legs reduced
• antennae separated from eye

Papilionidae

• antennae threadlike with tip clubbed, frenulum absent 
• antennae close together
• fore tibia with articulated spur
• hind wing with tail

Tineida, Gelechiidae

• antennae filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged, frenulum usually present
• hind wings very narrow, fringed with long hairs 
• size small 

Tortricidae

• antennae filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• frenulum usually present
• tympanal organ on abdomen absent (or located on thorax)
• fore wing squared-tipped

Sesiidae

• antenna filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• frenulum usually present
• fore wing long with transparent areas

Pterophoridae

• antenna filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged, frenulum usually present
• wings divided or cleft hind wing with 3 lobes

Pyralidae

• antenna filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• frenulum usually present
• tympanal organ present on abdominal sternite 1
• palp about as long as head, proboscis scaled at base, wing elongate

Pieridae

• antennae threadlike with tip clubbed
• antennae close together 
• fore tibia without spur
• front legs normal 
• usually white or yellow

Lasiocampidae

• antenna filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• tympanal organ on abdomen absent (or located on thorax)
• costal margin of hind wing expanded, color brown or grey, ~20-25mm

Saturniidae

• antenna filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• tympanal organ on abdomen absent (or located on thorax)
• costal margin of hind wing not expanded, color distinctive, large

Sphingidae

• antenna filiform, feathery, or gradually enlarged
• frenulum usually present
• body and antenna spindle shaped