Team – National Moth Week

National Moth Week Welcomes Ali Akbar Rafi as Country Coordinator for Bangladesh

Liti — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 03:15:03 +0000

National Moth Week is pleased to welcome Ali Akbar Rafi as the new country coordinator for Bangladesh.

Ali is currently studying for his bachelor’s degree in zoology at Jagannath University in Dhaka. He describes himself as a “dedicated and enthusiastic student with a strong commitment to academic excellence and personal growth … consistently seeking opportunities to expand my
knowledge and skills through research projects, internships, and
relevant workshops or seminars.”

Ali first learned about National Moth Week from a Facebook post by Dr. Shawan Chowdhury, then Bangladesh’s country coordinator.

“I contacted him and learned more about National Moth week,” he said.

Last year, he participated in NMW with his team members from Jagannath University.

Beyond the classroom, he has participated in numerous activities focused on nature and conservation, including bird identification, a nature study and conservation club, and a “butterfly fair” – a university butterfly identification competition arranged by Jahangirnagar University in Savar.

“As a zoology student, I’ve learned many things about moths and I’m very much interested to do work in this field. Moths are very interesting subject to know,” Ali said.

Ali noted that he also has authored a research paper published in Folia Primatologica, “Artificial canopy bridge use by primates and other arboreal mammals in a fragmented tropical forest of northeast Bangladesh.”

Ali’s interest in moths prompted Shawan, who is moving out of the country, to recommend him as the new country coordinator.

Ali plans to hold a moth night at Satchari National Park in Habiganj, and hopes to do a seminar about moths at his university.

“In Bangladesh, many people can’t differentiate between butterflies and moths, so it will be better to arrange a seminar,” he said.

National Moth Week thanks Shawan for serving as country coordinator and wishes Ali well in his new role.

Welcome Karuna Pandey as the New NMW Country Coordinator for Nepal

Liti — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 03:06:35 +0000

National Moth Week welcomes forestry student Karuna Pandey as the new country coordinator for Nepal. She will be replacing Sajan K.C., who served in this role for the past three years with great enthusiasm, and put Nepal’s moths on the map!

Karuna’s love for moths and butterflies started with photography. She tells us about herself:

“I am currently studying forestry at the Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus in Nepal. As a forestry student, I am very interested in working in wildlife research, conservation, and management. I am currently working on my thesis, which is titled ‘Contribution of butterflies in pollination of native and invasive plant species in IOF, Pokhara.’

“My fascination with butterflies and moths has grown since I began photographing them. It all began as a hobby. I used to take photographs of butterflies at day time and moths at night near my hostel lights and post them to insect identification groups on Facebook or message them to my seniors for identification. Moths’ distinct patterns, colors, shapes, and sizes have always attracted me towards them.

“At the Butterfly Research Centre Bhimtal, I even took a basic training in butterfly curation and identification. It was an honor to meet and learn from Mr. Peter Smetacek. He has an incredible collection of butterflies and moths. It was pleasure to see all of them and learn about them from him. The course lasted three days and was the best three days of my life. After that training, my curiosity and interest in moths and butterflies grew even stronger.

“Sajan K.C. informed me in 2020 that there was a Facebook page for National Moth Week, an initiative that dedicates a week to monitoring moths and allows you to join by registering an event.

“When I was offered the post as NMW’s Nepal country coordinator this year, I was overjoyed. As a coordinator, I would aim to encourage more individuals to join in this international event and build support networks with more people in order to give these group of insects the recognition they deserve.”

Welcome Karuna! And many thanks to Sajan for his service to National Moth Week since 2020.

Welcome Hernán Figueredo, Country Coordinator for Argentina

Liti — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:06:14 +0000

National Moth Week is pleased to welcome Hernán Figueredo of Argentina, as our second country coordinator in South America. A moth enthusiast since childhood, Hernán now collaborates with scientists and experts in entomology in addition to his undergraduate studies.

Hernán tells us about himself:

“I am a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in genetics at the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas, y Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Misiones (UNaM)- Argentina.

“Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by the world of science and nature, which led me to pursue my passion for entomology. Alongside my academic studies, I have actively engaged in entomology, particularly in the captivating realm of moths

“I started as an amateur in entomology, captivated by the incredible diversity of shapes and colors exhibited by these nocturnal creatures. Through dedication and perseverance, I have acquired a deep understanding of their life cycles, ecology, and importance in ecosystems.

“My commitment to researching and conserving moths has led me to become part of the

Programa de Investigación Entomología de Misiones (PrEM). This unique opportunity has

allowed me to collaborate with scientists and experts in the field of entomology, participating

in research and contributing to scientific knowledge about insects and their role in the

ecosystem.

“Furthermore, as a coordinator of a Lepidoptera Observers’ Club Misiones and San Miguel

(Corrientes), I have had the opportunity to share my passion with fellow nature enthusiasts

and promote a love for science within the community. We utilize tools like iNaturalist, to document and share our observations of moths and other insects.

“Through citizen science, we have contributed valuable data that helps scientists and

entomologists in their research and in biodiversity conservation efforts.

“This experience in entomology and citizen science has enriched me and strengthened my

commitment to scientific research and nature conservation. I firmly believe in the power of

public participation in knowledge generation, and I strive to promote citizen science and

encourage community involvement in research and biodiversity conservation.”

Welcome, Hernan! We are happy to have you on board our team of country coordinators who are bringing knowledge and appreciation of moths to their fellow citizens.

Aundrea Schneider Takes on Additional Role as NMW’s Social Media Specialist

Liti — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 03:17:33 +0000

As National Moth Week’s country coordinator for Canada, Aundrea Schneider has shown that her enthusiasm for our mission has no bounds. This summer, she has added a new role as social media specialist for our worldwide citizen science project to increase visibility and participation for NMW and communicate its value to wider audiences.

“I accepted this role because it allows me to expand on my current involvement with NMW, further supporting the remarkable team that I’ve been working with over the past year,” Aundrea said. “We’re all living busy lives, and since the project is solely funded by donations, we work together however- and whenever- possible, in order to make National Moth Week a success each year.

“I’m excited to be involved in the social media side of things, because I get to interact with so many passionate moth-ers, artists, scientists and enthusiasts from all over the world!

Aundrea says she plans to post more engaging content, reach out to potential collaborators and “hopefully get some traditions started during the cold seasons, to keep people inspired and having fun.” She says she is keeping some of her ideas under wraps in the meantime.

“My main goal right now is to bring consistency to our social media presence by focusing on the current platforms we’re using – Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and getting those to flow well together,” she added. “I want to create an ease-of-use, in which any member of the team could easily work with, when necessary.”

So far, Aundrea’s work with NMW’s “mothweek” account on Instagram is paying dividends, with a 500+-percent increase in account reach and engagement over the last month. While engagement generally jumps as NMW nears, Aundrea says she enjoys seeing the numbers grow and receiving positive comments from moth-enthusiasts on the platform.

Despite also being very busy developing her business in wilderness education, and training as a Wilderness First Responder instructor, Aundrea will continue to serve as Canada’s country coordinator for now.

“I have enjoyed mothing, spreading awareness, educating and designing promotional content, but I’ve got much to do yet, in terms of growing and coordinating the project, here in Canada,” she says. “There are many great moth advocates and educators that I intend to reach out to, as well.”

We are delighted to welcome Aundrea to the NMW team as our first social media specialist.

Welcome Mohammad Amin Ghaffari, Country Coordinator for Iran

Liti — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 03:53:53 +0000

Mohammad Amin Ghaffari, known as “Amin,” has joined National Moth Week as the country coordinator for Iran, also marking the first year his nation is participating in NMW.

Amin, who is 25, writes that he has a strong interest in zoology. Currently, he is studying tourism at the University of Science and Culture (USC) in Tehran, which is regarded as the largest and most prestigious of non-governmental universities in the country.

“My thesis is related to wildlife tourism and I am currently working as a wildlife tour guide and educator based in Tehran,” he writes. “I teach people and create content about sustainable tourism and wildlife conservation at local institutes. I’ve also participated in several conservation field projects. In 2021 I won an Iranian environmental award for my activities.”

Amin also is a member of several birding clubs, a former member of the Iranian Herpetology Institute and is the co-author of “Biodiviersity of Zaribar Wetland.”

“Mothing and butterfly-watching are my favorite hobbies, however I recognize myself as an amateur moth-er. Still, I try my best to introduce this activity to Iranian people because insect-related hobbies and ‘entomotourism’ – tours to observe the insect world – are poorly known in Iran. I study the native fauna of my area and help people to ID their observations of Iranian moths and [reptiles and amphibians].”

Amin recently created a Youtube channel that he calls Amin Argues. The videos will focus on topics in the biological sciences. He also will be starting new research at the National Museum of Natural History of Iran (MMTT), plans to apply for a Ph.D. position in human dimensions of natural resources.

Amin said he plans to promote National Moth Week in the media as well as on his own social media accounts on platforms popular in Iran. He can be found on iNaturalist and Instagram.

“I’m so glad I can join National Moth Week.”

Welcome Panagiotis Dalagiorgos, New Country Coordinator for Greece

Liti — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 02:27:04 +0000

National Moth Week is delighted to welcome our new country coordinator for Greece, Panagiotis Dalagiorgos, an award-winning photographer specializing in macro photography of nature’s smallest creatures.

“I have a particular interest in Lepidoptera,” said Panagiotis. “I can identify many moths and butterflies of Europe. I love exploring nature and the amazing small world and try to make the best pictures I can out of it, always prioritizing the well-being of my subjects.

“My goal as a photographer is to make people more aware of the beauty that is all around us but often goes unnoticed, and also learn about the importance of smaller beings and their major role in preserving our ecosystem.”

Panagiotis’ photography has been published in The Guardian, and in several national magazines in Greece.

“As a nature and wildlife photographer, I sometimes encounter scientifically significant species,” he said. “I have provided material for scientific research in the past that has been published in scientific journals.

“Lepidoptera are my favorite insects. I am currently a volunteer for ‘Apollo,’ the butterfly monitoring scheme of the biodiversity lab at the University of Ioannina, and have contributed to National Moth Week for the past two years as an observer. I would like to be more involved as a country coordinator.”

Panagiotis said he believes moths “deserve much more attention than they’re getting.”

“By getting people involved in moth watching, they will get to appreciate their delicate beauty, while at the same time help scientists with their research.”

In addition to welcoming Panagiotis, the National Moth Week team extends a big “thank you” to Chris Taklis, who served as country coordinator for Greece for several years and helped with the design and functionality of our website.

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National Moth Week Welcomes Balázs Károlyi As Hungary Country Coordinator

Liti — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 13:27:55 +0000

National Moth week is delighted to welcome Balázs Károlyi as our country coordinator for Hungary.

Balázs tells us about himself:

“I am a software engineer from Hungary with a strong interest in biodiversity, citizen science and nature conservation.

I am a founder of a nonprofit organization called “Közösen a Természetért Alapítvány” (Together for Nature Foundation). The goal of this organization is to provide reliable information about the Hungarian fauna, collect and share observations about it. It gathers people with the same goals to a community where we can share knowledge and make it available to everyone. This community includes scientists, amateur naturalists and nature photographers. We want to reduce the gaps between these groups. Together we are more effective in spreading the importance of biodiversity and can make people closer to nature.

I am the owner and developer of a citizen science webpage called https://www.izeltlabuak.hu (izeltlabuak means arthropods) since 2016. On this website users can upload their observations about all kinds of arthropods, including moths. Experts make identifications and validations for the records. I help in the identifications there and in Facebook groups, especially for true bugs and beetles. I am interested in and amused by all other insects and spiders as well.

I am committed to open access and Creative Commons licenses. I think that open science has huge benefits. All data that are provided by participants in every citizen science project should be easily accessible and reusable by everyone. With this mindset in place, I made both the access and license to open for all observations on that webpage.

I am glad to be able to work together with National Moth Week. Although the Hungarian moths are well studied, there are still parts where our knowledge is not complete. Climate change and other factors are having significant impacts on the distribution of Hungarian moths. We know only a little about how these changes affect them. Participating in Moth Week is a huge opportunity to increase our knowledge on moths and share their diversity and importance to a greater audience.”

Welcome Balázs! We’re happy that you’ll be helping to encourage interest in moths and participation in National Moth Week in Hungary!Balázs

Meet Dr. Faith Thomas Mpondo, Country Coordinator for Tanzania

Liti — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 14:29:23 +0000

Our family of National Moth Week Country Coordinators is growing, thanks to

the efforts of Dr. Vijay Barve, our Global Community Facilitator!

Meet our newest country coordinator, Dr. Faith Thomas Mpondo of Tanzania,

an East African nation, known for its expansive wildlife areas, such as

Serengeti National Park.

Faith is a passionate scientist interested in biodiversity, ecology and

conservation. Her interest in biodiversity started when she was 10 years

old during a visit to Mikumi National Park with her parents.

 “I was thrilled to watch zebras in their natural habitat; some were

grazing and others wallowing.”

Her passion intensified when she joined the University of Dar es Salaam for

a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science and Conservation.

“My undergraduate training was truly eye-opening on the importance of

different plant and animal species along with their importance to

humankind,” she said.

She participated in a landscape mosaic project in East Usambara, Eastern

Arc mountain, in 2009, where butterfly farming formed an important income

generator for local communities.

“I was truly amazed by their beautiful colors, and ever since, I developed

special interests in insects.”

Since 2012, Faith has been working as a beekeeping officer with the

Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT), where she conducted

several outreach trainings for local communities, secondary and college

students in Tanzania on the importance of pollinator conservation. Faith

has also served as a public speaker in SOAPBOX Science for a ladies event

in Arusha in 2019.

She is currently a lecturer at the University of Dodoma in the nation’s

capital, and a member of international scientific organizations, including

the OWSD – Tanzanian Chapter (Organization for Women in Science for the

Developing World). She has also researched insect pollinators in Tanzania,

sponsored by several funders, including Eva Crane Trusts, Royal Belgian

Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and CREATES, Tanzania. Faith has

published several articles on insect pollinator benefits, threats and

conservation in semi-arid areas. She is also serving as a reviewer for some

International Journals.

Faith says she first heard about National Moth Week from a colleague during

her internship at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in

February 2020.

“I am more than happy to be joining the National Moth Week as country

coordinator for Tanzania due to my intense passion for insects,” she said.

“Raising fellow Tanzanians’ awareness and introducing moth watching will be

a pleasure because of their different values, including intrinsic,

educational, aesthetic, scientific, economic and ecosystem. Moreover, they

are essential insects that should be well known and conserved.”

National Moth Week is delighted to welcome Faith as country coordinator for

Tanzania!

Meet Min Khant Naing, Country Coordinator for Myanmar

Liti — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 03:17:35 +0000

Min Khant Naing of the Southeast Asia nation of Myanmar tells us about himself:

“I’m a naturalist from Myanmar.

“I studied mostly butterflies and moths for three years and have created a group about Lepidoptera. Now, I’m sharing and moderating another groups and pages, including Myanmar species identification (MSI), Butterflies and Moths of Myanmar (BMOM) and Birds and Wildlife of Myanmar, which are sharing knowledge and information with Myanmar people.

In iNaturalist, I’ve uploaded and observed many species of moths and butterflies. I believe I will be able to raise the stature of moths with our people.”

National Moth Week welcomes Min!

Meet Keomany Leuangthi, Laos Country Coordinator

Liti — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 03:07:40 +0000

Keomany Leuangthi, of the Southeast Asian nation of Laos, works with Asian Arks, a nonprofit in Asia dedicated to conservation, doing species identification and as a field technician.
“In the field team, I so far have set up camera traps and collected data, and also participate in a law enforcement group as a ranger in the protected area in Laos,” Keomany said.

“My interest in nature conservation started when I was a child living in a small village in the Annamite mountain,” said Keomany. “Much of our food came from wild collection in the forest and here was also my first knowledge of birds, moths and butterflies, and how humans, animals and plants live together.

“Later in high school we also learned how these relationships can be disturbed by over exploitation and human greed, resulting in global warming and destruction of biodiversity.

“Living in an area outside Vientiane in a savanna-like biotope, where a small village is converted to a garden city-like construction by building houses on previous paddies, I now can follow how biodiversity changes.

“Since 2015, I have participated in the Natural Laos group where I can learn more from other naturalists about nature such as plants, animals, and insects,” said Keomany. “I am pleased to participate in National Moth Week as country coordinator to advertise to the people how important beautiful moths are to our ecological system.”
Welcome Keomany!