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After a year of waiting, watching, and undergoing our own kind of metamorphosis, the Hillsborough Moth Crawl is back! On the night of Saturday, June 6, 2026, we gather once again around the collecting sheets, summoning the light and everything it draws out of the darkness.
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This year feels different. Bigger. More magical. And we think once you see what we have planned, you'll feel it too!
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The 2026 Moth Crawl spans three stunning natural areas — Blackwood Farm Park, Brumley Forest Nature Preserve, and Confluence Natural Area — with experienced volunteers at every location ready to help you name what arrives at the sheets. Whether you've been mothing for years or have never heard the word used as a verb before, there is a place for you here.
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We've grown. We've added. And we think you're going to love what's coming. Our friends at CLAWS are joining us at Blackwood Farm Park for Frenemies, A Love Story — a live experience with owls, hawks, falcons, and yes, everybody's favorite corvids, Grip and Lark. The NC Entomological Society will be bringing hands-on insect activities to Confluence Natural Area. And for the moth nerds among us, there's an exclusive Leaf Miner Workshop on Friday, June 5 that you won't want to miss!
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Compete, Observe, and Contribute to Science
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Feeling competitive? The Moth Crawl features two optional contests this year. The iNaturalist Contest is a friendly, playful celebration of observation and species documentation. The Grand Moth'er Challenge is something else entirely — a timed, high-stakes individual field competition for those who thrive under pressure and want to walk away with both premium moth equipment and a title worthy of framing. Prospective contestants may enter only one competition, so choose wisely. Visit the website to learn more about both contests and find out which one is right for you.
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Come As You Are — Or Come Transformed
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The Moth Crawl has always been a space rooted in inclusion, wonder, and the kind of joy that only happens when you're standing in the dark watching a Luna Moth flutter into the light. Moth wings, antennae, sequins, full cryptid fantasy, hiking boots with a red plaid shirt — all equally welcome as you make your attempt to be way more fashionable than MOTHS!
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Swag, Stamps, and a Very Special T-Shirt
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Everyone who registers receives event swag at check-in. Collect stamps as you visit each location and complete your card for a chance to win a limited edition 2026 Hillsborough Moth Crawl T-shirt featuring our Spokes-moth, the breathtaking Io Moth (Automeris io), brought to life by artist Jade Shepard of the Perpetual Pen. Trust us — you want this shirt!
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We summon the light, and the light summons the moths. We hope it summons you, too!
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EXCLUSIVE FOR OUR CAPTIVE AUDIENCE:
FREE LEAF MINER WORKSHOP
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Offered as both a resource for the Grand Moth’er Challenge and an invitation for all moth lovers who want to take their knowledge to a new level, this workshop explores leaf miners as one of the most fascinating,and often overlooked, aspects of our beloved MOTHS!
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Title: Who’s Been Drawing on the Leaves? An Introduction to Leaf Miners
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Date: Friday, June 5, 2026
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Ever notice those squiggly lines on leaves, as if something has been drawing or writing across the surface? It’s enough to make you wonder: who’s responsible? A sentient cryptid? An extra-terrestrial Banksy? The reality is just as fascinating!
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Imagine starting you life in the ultimate living escape room: you’re a microscopic caterpillar inside of a leaf, where the only way out is to eat your way through! As these tiny caterpillars tunnel through plant tissue, they leave behind the intricate patterns we see — and often a trail of frass!
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Join local expert Tracy Feldman for an engaging introduction to leaf miners, including both moth and fly species, along with a bonus look at wasp galls. The workshop begins with a short indoor session covering what these organisms are, how they live, and how to recognize their signs. Then we’ll head outside to find leaf mines and galls in the field and practice observing them up close.
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Tracy S. Feldman is an ecologist and educator originally from the Northeastern United States, with a lifelong interest in natural history. He began studying leaf-mining insects in 2015 and has worked with Charley Eiseman and others to document new host records, new state records, and new species of leaf miners. He spent approximately 14 years as a college biology professor and has worked since 2023 as an environmental educator and Assistant Manager of Durant and Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserves with the City of Raleigh. He enjoys sharing the wonders of nature with anyone who is curious to learn more.dit this to insert text.
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MEET THE 2026 HILLSBOROUGH MOTH CRAWL SPOKES-MOTH:
AUTOMERIS IO
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Introducing Automeris io, the Io Moth! A reminder that the moth world is full of color, wonder, and drama beyond the Luna and Rosy Maple moths. We chose the Io Moth because those eyespots — dreamy, starry, nebulous — look like they were pulled straight from a galaxy. We are captivated, and once you see this design, you will be too!
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This year, we collaborated with Jade Shepard of the Perpetual Pen , an artist who exists in the rare space where scientific precision and pure magic overlap. Jade has a gift for capturing both the finest details and the greater soul of her subjects, rendering the natural world in a way that is at once breathtakingly true to life and somehow fantastical. Her work radiates curiosity and wonder: you can feel her deep love for and connection to nature, and her hunger to truly know every creature she recreates. And moths? Moths are her people! It was only right that she bring our 2026 Spokes-moth to life!
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This is a limited edition shirt, and you’ll want it in your hands before the Moth Crawl begins. Each shirt is printed and shipped directly to you via Printful. Please allow 7–14 days depending on your shipping speed, and plan your order accordingly. This limited edition design will be available until June 30, 2026.
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The Moth Crawl has always run on passion, volunteer hours, and the sheer collective will of people who really, really love moths. This year we are adding something new: a formal sponsorship program for individuals, businesses, organizations, and groups who want to help sustain this event and everything it stands for. Sponsorships start at $50. All Sponsors receive exclusive swag and perks as our way of saying thank you for keeping the lights on, literally!
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