Project Noah helps host the inaugural National Moth Week – Guest Post by Jacob Gorneau

The Moths of the World mission at Project Noah  was featured as part of the inaugural National Moth Week, which ran from July 23, 2012 to July 29, 2012.  Project Noah and National Moth Week promoted appreciation of all moths around the world during the week.

If a user contributed a spotting to the Moths of the World mission during National Moth Week, they were awarded a special limited-edition patch with a description of National Moth Week: “Great work! You’ve submitted a moth spotting to the first ever international Moth Week and are now part of moth history. We’re working hard to collect important data and show the world how awesome moths really are and we thank you for helping us out with your contribution. Now, let’s get back out there and spot some more moths!”

It was quite fulfilling being the creator of the Moths of the World mission to hear Project Noah users during National Moth Week say, “Wow! I never knew moths could be so beautiful! ” Leaving a light on during the summer nights usually opens a whole new world invisible to those who only view wildlife during the day. Moths are usually quite docile; especially the large sphinx moths and the silk moths don’t mind being held.

There are approximately 160,000 species of moths worldwide, with thousands more undiscovered.  Documentation from all over the world helps bring experts and nature lovers together to even further advance the discovery of new species! Even though there is such a vast amount of moths in the world, they seem to be stereotyped as drab, dull, gray, creatures. Upon a closer inspection, all moths, even the small gray ones, have intricate patterns which can easily be unnoticed.

A total of 684 spottings were submitted the Moths of the World mission at Project Noah during National Moth Week so far. Of those, 418 have been identified, and 266 still need an identification.  Click here to see a summary of all spottings.

Thirty countries participated in National Moth Week on Project Noah, ranging from Austria to Sri Lanka, making for a very exciting collection of moths! One species, Euproctis lutea, formerly only reported on the internet from Australia, was documented in the Philippines. The spotting can be seen by clicking here. Since then, there have been even more data points of this species from the Philippines. Documentation on the internet is quickly allowing experts and citizen scientists to help identify certain species, to more easily extend ranges, and to help collect data for certain organizations.

Highlights of the week include the colorful, almost rainbow-like Eucyclodes gavissima spotted by Project Noah user IrungbamJatishworSingh from Bhutan. A fantastically huge moth which appeared to be a tarantula, Trichophassus giganteus, was spotted in Brazil by asergio. CarolSnowMilne found a lovely yellow moth in Pennsylvania, Azenia obtusa. In Nigeria, dotun55 found an elaborate Bunaea alcinoe with some beautiful red and brown markings.

Jolly Ibañez witnessed eclosion of a beautiful green moth, Pergesa acteus in the Philippines. Jeannette spotted an interestingly shaped and colored Euthrix potatoria in Germany. In Vermont, meeyauw found a stunning Pachysphinx modesta caterpillar. These lovely spottings are only a small sampling of the diverse moths Project Noah users found during National Moth Week.

Don’t worry, if you were unable to participate this year, this National Moth Week will be the first of many! Of course, the moths don’t only come out during National Moth Week either! You can find them during almost every season, in various colors, shapes, and sizes! Go look for your favorite!

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7 thoughts on “Project Noah helps host the inaugural National Moth Week – Guest Post by Jacob Gorneau”

  1. It was through National Moth Week that I became aware of the beautiful moth species we have worldwide. It was indeed timely when National Moth Week was posted in Project NOAH that I have just rescued 6 green hawk moth caterpillars (Pergesa acteus) which emerged July 27, 2012 just in time to join the National Moth Week celebration. I am indeed thankful to Project NOAH for the recognition of my moth as Spotting of the Day, to National Moth Week organizers for the awareness brought about by this endeavor and Jacob Gorneau for including my spotting in this article. I will try my best to actively participate in next year’s National Moth Week Celebration.

    1. Jolly, I’m so very glad you fell in love with the beauty of moths all over the Earth during National Moth Week 2012. I’m so glad you were able to share your beautiful experience with us during National Moth Week at Project Noah. You are very welcome, I dearly love your moth, and look forward to what you discover in National Moth Week 2013!

  2. Firstly, I would like to thanks the National Moth week organizers for giving me the opportunity to explore this wonderful and colorful creature on earth. In the next event I will try to put up more moths from Bhutan.
    Thanks Jacob for the honor you have given me by highlighting my spotting in the post.

    1. Hi Singh! I’m extremely happy you were able to find this “rainbow moth” during National Moth Week. Your moths from Bhutan have really opened the eyes of many National Moth Week participants and users at Project Noah! You are very welcome, and I hope to see you and your moths on Project Noah for National Moth Week 2013!

  3. Andrée Reno Sanborn

    Thank you for the links, Jacob. It was an amazing month. Dozens of us on Google+ could only talk moths, dream moths that month. We are all planning how to better our observations and/or photos for the next one!

    1. Hi Andrée! You are very welcome. I love summer months filled with moths, and I’m sure you do too. Even though it is freezing now in New York, I’m ready to get out their whenever spring arrives. I’m glad you have a wonderful moth group at Google+! We hope to see you and them next year for another moth filled National Moth Week! 🙂

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