The first annual National Moth Week will be this summer, July 23-29, 2012! This is the first event of its kind in the US (it has been popular in the UK for quite some time) and is an attempt to encourage people to head outside and explore their often overlooked moth fauna. The US has an impressive moth diversity with over 11,000 described species, most of which people can’t name two of. As a citizen science project there will be teams of people submitting their records (photographs or lists) of moths found in yards across the country. If you read this blog you probably have enough interest to participate! This map lists events that are currently registered – have one in your area? Contact that person and join in! There is also lots of room to set up your own event. I’ll register in a few months when I figure out where I’ll be, but you can count on it being BYOB (beer is a critical field supply).
Coincidentally the Moth Week corresponds with the Lepidopterists’ Society National Meeting being held this year in Denver, Colorado. Naturally, everyone will be headed out at night to look for moths. If you’re in Denver and want to see what it is we do, please get a hold of me, I will probably be attending the meeting this year.
