This year, National Moth Week will celebrate tiger moths, members of the Arctiinae subfamily of the Erebidae family of Lepidoptera. Tiger moths are found throughout the world and can have striking colors and wing patterns.

Started in New Jersey in 2012, National Moth Week (NMW) invites people of all ages and abilities to learn about and observe moths  by holding or attending “moth nights” or educational programs in backyards, parks, nature centers, museums and anywhere a light can be turned on in the dark to watch nighttime nature come to life.

Last year, more than 450 events were registered on the National Moth Week site in all 50 states and 42 countries around the world. Since NMW began, mothing events have been held in a total of 74 countries on every inhabited continent and major island nations.

Moth-ers can submit their photos and data to NMW’s partner organizations, as well as the NMW Flickr group, which now has nearly 70,000 photos of moths from around the world.

Anyone can register a public or private event or find one to attend in their area by checking nationalmothweek.org for public events. Registration is free to individuals, groups and organizations.