Learn about why and how to submit moth observation – click here.

This year’s event to spotlight hawk moths, sphinx moths in Sphingidae family

Registration is in full swing for the fourth annual National Moth Week 2015 (NMW) July 18-26, a global citizen-science project that celebrates the beauty, diversity and ecological importance of moths. This year, National Moth Week will spotlight the Sphingidae family of moths found throughout the world, commonly called hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms.

Anyone can participate in National Moth Week. “Moth-ers” of all ages and abilities are encouraged to learn about, observe and document moths in their backyards, parks, and neighborhoods.

There is no fee to register a U.S. or international event. Registration is open to individuals, groups and organizations. Participating organizations have included National Parks and Monuments, state and local parks, museums, libraries, camps and nature clubs. Anyone can register a public or private event or find one to attend in their area by checking nationalmothweek.org for public events.

National Moth Week (NMW) shines a much-needed spotlight on moths and their ecological importance as well as their incredible biodiversity. This nine-day global event encourages children and adults to become “citizen scientists” and contribute photos and data to online databases. Last year, more than 400 events were held in all 50 states and 42 countries.

A moth-ing event can simply involve turning on a porch light at night and watching what happens, or going outside in daylight to find caterpillars and diurnal moths. Participants can use ordinary light bulbs, UV lights, or mercury vapor lights to attract moths, or brush sweet moth bait on tree barks.

Why study moths?
• Moths are among the most diverse and successful organisms on earth.
• Scientists estimate there are 150,000 to more than 500,000 moth species.
• Their colors and patterns are either dazzling or so cryptic that they define camouflage. Shapes and sizes span the gamut from as small as a pinhead to as large as an adult’s hand.
• Most moths are nocturnal, but some fly during the day.
• Moths can give us clues about the health of their environment. Decreasing numbers in some locations can indicate problems in the ecosystem.
The Sphingidae family includes many widely found species, such as day-flying moths like the “hummingbird moth,” (genus Hemaris) a “hawkmoth” also known as clearwings, which mimics bumblebees and hummingbirds. Also among the estimated 1,450 Sphingidae species are the Pandorus sphinx, Elephant hawk moth, White-lined sphinx, Gaudy sphinx and One-eyed sphinx. It is believed they get their nickname of “hawk moth” from their rapid flight. They have been studied for their flying ability, being among some of the fastest flying insects.

“Hawk moths are important pollinators of native plants, especially in arid environments like the American Southwest,” said NMW team member Dr. Elena Tartaglia. “They visit plants to get nectar and in the process, their large furry bodies can carry a lot of pollen. Like most moths, they are an important component of food webs as food for birds, small mammals, lizards and predatory insects.”

Sphinx moths get their nicknames from the sphinx-like pose they often have while resting on plants as caterpillars. Hornworms are so named for the “horns” on the posterior end of the caterpillar.

Through partnerships with major online biological data depositories such as BAMONA, Project Noah, Encyclopedia of Life, Discover Life, and iNaturalist, National Moth Week encourages participants to record moth distribution and to provide information on other aspects of their life cycles and habitats.

Last year, moth-watching and educational events were held throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, South, Central, and North America. Events included “moth nights,” museum exhibitions, a “moth ball,” educational programs at parks and camps, urban mothing parties, and tours of the insect collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

National Moth Week is a project of the Friends of the East Brunswick (NJ) Environmental Commission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education and conservation. The event grew out of local summer “Moth Nights” organized by David Moskowitz and Liti Haramaty of the Friends since 2005. The events typically attract 30 to 50 persons, some with scientific backgrounds, but mostly local residents and their children who want to experience a unique nighttime nature activity.

In March, a bill to name the Io moth the official state moth was introduced by N.J. Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin in the New Jersey State Legislature. If passed and signed by the governor, New Jersey would become the first state to designate a state moth.

“National Moth Week raises awareness about the amazing world of nighttime nature that many people have never observed,” said Moskowitz, an environmental consultant and Ph.D. candidate in entomology at Rutgers University. “Thousands of photos taken by citizen scientists at mothing events have been uploaded to data depositories by participants.”

“Moths can be observed anywhere, anytime,” said NMW co-founder Liti Haramaty. “It’s easy and fun – just turn on a light and wait for the moths to find it. Anyone with a digital camera can contribute to our knowledge about moths’ diversity and distribution, and help us to better understand the impact of human activities on the ecology of our planet.”

“National Moth Week is a fun and educational way to introduce kids to science through the world of moths,” said Jacob Gorneau, 17, a junior at Greenville (N.Y.) High School and the youngest member of the NMW team. “With about 12,000 species in North America, and many more to be described, the beginner can expect something new at the light almost every time,”.

Media Contact:  Sandra Lanman
908-217-2312
sandra@lanmanpr.com

Click here for a PDF of the news release

Click here to register an event

Naturalist Therese Cummiskey hosted our moth night with 1st session starting at 10:30pm, 2nd starting at 11:45pm. Moni Hayne, local entomologist discussed basic information about moths. Handouts of moth silhouettes were passed out and a slide show of local moths were available to view in the Nature Center.

We were excited to have about 30 participants(ages 2 to 60+), a third of which were children! About a half dozen folks stayed for both sessions. We saw about 50 different species of moths covering at least 10 families. Several that were seen have been posted on bugguide.net and were the first ones posted for Iowa.

Don’t think there was a favorite moth noted by the group. The largest was Catocala amatrix, wingspan 75-95 mm, The sweetheart Catocala, to the smallest, 6mm long – Walshia miscecolorella. The coolest insect for me was the mantidfly with prey.

Therese was so excited about the turn out and results we scheduled a moth night for July 24, 2013, during National Moth Week.

During the first-ever National Moth Week, Miami Blue Chapter and Broward County Butterfly Chapter of NABA are celebrating our South Florida day-flying and night-flying moths at Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center, Davie, FL. On Sunday, July 29, 2:00 pm, a program on some special local moths, featuring the Tiger Moths, will be offered by Dr. Michelle DaCosta of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Relations. We will learn what they look like and what they’re up to — how they guard against predators, court, feed, and connect to the plants in our yards. We will also get to know some of our colorful day-flying moths and how they go about their lives.

Many of us are avid butterfly and bird gardeners, but rarely think of our gardens as meccas for moths. At our program on July 29, we will identify a selection of “moth plants” for gardeners to consider, with Dr. DaCosta’s help. We hope to “plant” the idea of moth gardening as synergistic with butterfly and wildlife gardening.

Earlier in Moth Week, Dr. DaCosta will set up sheets and lights at Long Key to introduce us to the moth fauna of the nature center: Details of our Moth Week programs will be on our web and web calendar: http://www.miamiblue.org. We intend to have descriptive information to submit from our moth-attracting effort with Dr. DaCosta.

We have the dubious distinction, in South Florida,  of being the last stronghold of two federally endangered butterflies, the Schaus’ Swallowtail and the Miami Blue. We suspect that our moths are similarly impacted, but of them, little is known and no public attention is focused on them. The major 2011 release from the USDA Forest Service has a title that is an alarm bell: Rare, Declining, and Poorly Known Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) of Forests and Woodlands in the Eastern United States by Dale Schweitzer, Marc Minno and David Wagner. We are pleased to join the many organizations that have partnered with and are supporting Moth Week and hope that it advances our knowledge and capacity to conserve our moths.

Published on WILDNEWJERSEY at 11/7/2011

by Dave Moskowitz

This is my first column for Wild New Jersey and I am very excited that I was asked to contribute. I hope to focus future columns on the incredible moths around us.

With that theme in mind, I am very excited to introduce a new project that is underway in partnership with WildNewJersey.tv and many other groups and individuals across the country. It is called National Moth Week (www.nationalmothweek.org) and is a celebration of moths and biodiversity. It is being held July 23-29, 2012.

Why moths? With more than 10,000 species in North America alone, moths offer endless options for study, education, photography and fun. Moths can be found everywhere from inner cities, to suburban backyards and the most wild and remote places. The diversity of moths is simply astounding. Their colors and patterns are often dazzling or so cryptic that they define camoflauge. Shapes and sizes span the gamut with some as small as a pinhead and others as large as a hand.

Most moths are nocturnal creatures of the night, and need to be sought to see – others fly like butterflies during the day. Finding moths is easy and can be as simple as leaving a porch light on and checking it after dark. Serious moth aficionados use special lights and baits to attract them. Moths are also featured widely in literature and art providing a different angle for enjoyment and study. 

Moth Nights are often held by nature groups and allow an easy opportunity for an introduction or for more serious pursuits. National Moth Week brings together everyone interested in moths to celebrate these amazing insects. It is hoped that groups and individuals from all across the country will spend some time during National Moth Week looking for moths and sharing what they’ve found. 

During National Moth Week, attend a Moth Night event, start one, get some friends and neighbors together and check the porch lights from time to time, set up a light and see what is in your own backyard, read literature about moths. But no matter what, participate; the richness of moths is sure to fascinate. National Moth Week: Exploring Nighttime Nature.    

Dave Moskowitz is Senior Vice President with EcolSciences, an environmental consulting company in Rockaway, NJ, (www.ecolsciences.com) and President of the non-profit Friends of the East Brunswick Environemtnal Commission (www.friendsebec.com). He lives in East Brunswick with his wife and three children and is happy to have stumbled upon a profession that allows him to frequently wander swamps and fields and woods looking for butterflies, moths, dragonflies, birds, salamanders and all other kinds of similar creatures.