It’s time for our first Moth Night of the year!
This event will be a special one—we’re hosting it for the first time on University of Michigan property. In partnership with the University of Michigan Entomology Club and with support from the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, we’ll hold this year’s first installment at Dow Prairie in Nichols Arboretum.
Most moths are nocturnal and only seen after dark. While some fly during the day like butterflies, most are drawn in at night by light. We’ll hang sheets lit with UV lights to attract them, giving us a chance to observe and photograph these diverse insects up close.
Moths play a vital role in the food web—there are an estimated 160,000 described species (possibly up to 500,000), compared to just 17,500 butterflies. They’re especially important for birds: 96% of terrestrial bird species feed their young insects, and most rely heavily on caterpillars, which are soft, abundant, and protein-rich.
This year, we’ll also have UV flashlights on hand to help spot caterpillars and other organisms that fluoresce under ultraviolet light—another way to explore what comes alive after dark.
Check out our Moth Nights of Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance iNaturalist project to view hundreds of observations with photos, species details, and more from past moth night events. We’ll be encouraging attendees to photograph and post their own observations to iNaturalist during the event to help document the night’s findings and contribute to community science.
Suggestions for Attendees:
- A headlamp or flashlight would be nice to have.
- Ninja night with moths! Wearing black is the best way to keep
moths on the sheet and not your shirt.
- It might be nice to bring a camp chair if you would like to sit.
Directions: Meet at the east end of the arboretum at the Dow Prairie entrance. From Geddes Ave., turn north onto Riverview Dr. and stay right until it terminates at Riverview Ct. cul-de-sac. (Map)
You may also like the following events from Washtenaw Audubon Society:
