Celebrate National Moth Week
with Matthaei Botanical Gardens, UM Entomology Club, and Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance
Last month’s moth night at Matthaei was a tremendous success—shattering all previous records with 219 species observed, 743 total observations, and an enthusiastic turnout of participants! We’re thrilled to return to this outstanding University of Michigan property in partnership with the U-M Entomology Club, with support from Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, to celebrate National Moth Week. 👉 View and compare all of our moth night observations on iNaturalist at tinyurl.com/WBNAmoths
What to Expect
We’ll set up several UV light stations in a variety of habitats throughout the gardens to attract different moth species. This is a relaxed, come-and-go event with participants moving between stations at their own pace throughout the night.
What to Bring
A light source
Trails can be uneven and unpaved—bring a flashlight or headlamp.
A flashlight also helps illuminate moths for photography.
An iNaturalist account (optional but encouraged)
Upload your own observations to help document the night’s biodiversity
New to iNaturalist? Check out this quick start guide:
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started
Dark clothing
Moths are less likely to land on you than the sheets. Think “ninja night!
Curiosity and questions
Moth enthusiasts will be on hand to share knowledge and help
with IDs.
Schedule
9:00 PM – Meet at the Conservatory steps of Matthaei Botanical Gardens
- Opening remarks, introductions, and a quick rundown of what to
expect.
9:15 PM – Disperse to explore the light stations
Wander, observe, photograph, and ask questions at your own pace.
10:30 PM – UV Wavelength Walk
Gather again at the conservatory for a guided walk using UV flashlights to search for caterpillars and other glowing lifeforms—or continue exploring the light stations on your own.
End of Program – ~11:30 PM or later
Stations will begin coming down after 11:30, but the exact end time is flexible.
Why Moths?
Moths are essential to ecosystems and vastly outnumber their butterfly relatives—160,000+ described species (possibly up to 500,000!) compared to just 17,500 butterfly species. They play a key role in the food web, especially for birds: 96% of terrestrial bird species feed their young insects, and caterpillars—protein-rich and abundant—are a staple. Most of all, they are beautiful and fascinating!
You may also like the following events from Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance:
