By they end of the 24 hours a total of 706 species had been identified with numerous specimens yet to be determined. Once all these unidentified specimens can be more carefully researched through the literature, dissected, and compared to museum specimen collections this 706 species total is expected to climb. The scientists themselves were amazed by the high total. The 706 one-day total shattered the previous North American record of 507 butterflies and moths recorded by Richard Brown and students on Mississippi's Black Belt Prairie. Scientists rediscovered a ghost moth on Clingmans Dome that occurs at only two other sites in the world.
Ghost moths are ancient creatures whose ancestry traces back to the time of dinosaurs.
The group felt that this species was one of their most significant finds. Voucher specimens from the count will be deposited at the Park, Smithsonian Institution, and Field Museum where they will be available to the public and research. Moth specimens not required for current scientific purposes have been frozen for use in the park's environmental education programs. Students will be introduced to the natural biodiversity of the park and region by identifying these common moths using pictorial field guides. After the count, there was considerable discussion about what the total species diversity in the Smokies was likely to be.