6th Annual Moth Night
Saturday, July 20, 2024
8:30 pm to 11:30 pm

Tickets Available in June 2024

What is Mothing?

It’s a fun hobby of drawing moths to a collecting sheet using a light source. Though moths are nocturnal they are drawn to light sources like porch lights, UV lights, mercury vapor lights, and retina searing 400 watt metal halid lights. 

What should I bring to moth night?

Please bring a flashlight or wear a head lamp. Bring with you whatever will make you comfortable such as an outdoor chair, non-alcoholic beverage, snacks. We suggest bringing a camera and field guide. 

What kind of moths will we see?

There are some fairly common moths we expect to see,  but let’s be honest: we’re all hoping that Mothra will appear! Ok, it’s always cool when some of the Big Ones grace us with their presence. 

Why bother to look for moths?

Moths are very important insects! Reasons to love moths: pollinators, indicator species, food for other critters. Yes, there are those moths that eat crops, carpets, wool sweaters, and laugh maniacally when you act afraid of them. But a world without moths would not be a very pleasant world.

What will you provide?

In addition to our collecting sheets we provide UV protective eyewear, sunscreen, field guide, lighted magnifying glass, and hopefully interesting conversation. 

How is this citizen science?

All observations made on our collecting sheets are submitted as records to either state or national databases that verify identification. You are welcome to submit your sightings to our project on iNaturalist.

What is Mothing?

It’s a fun hobby of drawing moths to a collecting sheet using a light source. Though moths are nocturnal they are drawn to light sources like porch lights, UV lights, mercury vapor lights, and retina searing 400 watt metal halid lights. 

What should I bring to moth night?

Please bring a flashlight or wear a head lamp. Bring with you whatever will make you comfortable such as an outdoor chair, non-alcoholic beverage, snacks. We suggest bringing a camera and field guide. 

What kind of moths will we see?

There are some fairly common moths we expect to see,  but let’s be honest: we’re all hoping that Mothra will appear! Ok, it’s always cool when some of the Big Ones grace us with their presence. 

Why bother to look for moths?

Moths are very important insects! Reasons to love moths: pollinators, indicator species, food for other critters. Yes, there are those moths that eat crops, carpets, wool sweaters, and laugh maniacally when you act so afraid of them. But a world without moths would not be a very pleasant world.

What will you provide?

In addition to our collecting sheets we provide UV protective eyewear, sunscreen, field guide, lighted magnifying glass, and hopefully interesting conversation. 

How is this citizen science?

All observations made on our collecting sheets are submitted as records to either state or national databases that verify identification. You are welcome to submit your sightings to our project on iNaturalist. 

Mothing Equipment

We use a combination of LED and mercury vapor lights

LED Light
LepiLED Maxi Switch

Traditional Lights
We will have a collecting sheet using a 160 watt mercury vapor bulb and a 40 watt UV 24 inch tube.

LepiLED light designed and sold by Dr. Gunnar Brehm
iMarkup_20230623_235925
LepiLED lights in action
160 mercury vapor bulb left; 400 watt metal halide bulb right
mothing
Mercury vapor and UV lights in action

Mothing Equipment

We use a combination of LED and mercury vapor lights LED Light LepiLED Maxi Switch Traditional Lights We will have a collecting sheet using a 160 watt mercury vapor bulb and a 40 watt UV 24 inch tube.
LepiLED light designed and sold by Dr. Gunnar Brehm
iMarkup_20230623_235925
LepiLED light in action
Mercury vapor left, metal halide right
mothing
Mercury vapor and UV lights in action

Free Tickets Available Here in June 2024

Contact US

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Text

(919) 241-7865
Our preferred method of contact

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Our preferred method of contact

Email

hello@backyardbutterflies.org
When a slower response is ok

Email

When a slower response is ok

Phone

(919) 241-7865
Please leave a voice message

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