Hillsborough Moth Crawl

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐬!

Unofficially described as part citizen science, part magic, and all parts pure moth joy, we’re ecstatic to return for another night of mothy mayhem across Hillsborough! Whether you are a curious newcomer or seasoned moth’er, young or old, join us for an evening around the glowing lights where moths lurk and everyone’s weirdness is welcome! Come dressed up in your best pair of wings or clad in your best Mothman costume in celebration and love for our "nighttime butterflies"!

This year’s Moth Crawl has expanded thanks to a grant from the 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛. We have partnered with 𝐄𝐧𝐨 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 to provide better parking accommodations and space for over 10 light trapping sheets. 𝑨𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.

Moth your way across three locations in one night at multiple Mothing Stations per venue. We will have over 10 different light collecting sheets using a combination of mercury vapor, LepiLED, and Entoqup UV lights.

Moth Station hosts and volunteers will help you identify moths on collecting sheet(s), answer questions, and provide information about moths and the various other insects you will see.

Mothing is a weather dependent activity. Attendees will be provided updates by email about delayed start times or rescheduling in the event of rain. Rain date is Sunday, June 8 at the same times and locations.


𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐥
🔦 Essentials:
Flashlight or headlamp (to safely navigate in the dark)

Camera or smartphone (optional, but great for capturing insect encounters)

👖 Clothing Guidelines:
Closed-toe shoes (no sandals or flip-flops)

Long pants

Snug-fitting shirt (avoid loose sleeves and neck)

Minimize exposed skin—some insects will land on you or crawl up sleeves!

🧴 Extra Tips:
Insect repellent is recommended (to discourage friendly tickles)

UV lights will be in use—consider applying sunscreen to exposed skin


𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡

Start your adventure at any of our three glowing locations—sites open at 8:30 PM. At your first stop, pick up an Official Hillborough Moth Crawl stamp card. As you flutter from site to site, collect a stamp at each one. Once you’ve visited all three locations, show us your completed card (you can keep it as a souvenir) to receive a complimentary bumper sticker proudly declaring: "I mothed my way across Hillsborough at the Hillsborough Moth Crawl"


𝐢𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭

The Hillsborough Moth Crawl iNaturalist Contest is open to all attendees of the event. To enter the contest you will need to have an iNaturalist user account and join the official iNaturalist contest project for a chance to win prizes while helping us document the incredible diversity of moths in our area during the night of the Crawl! Contest Eligibility Requirements & Rules can be read on the event webpage or on the iNaturalist project page.

* To enter contest, visit the project on iNaturalist at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/hillsborough-moth-crawl-2025 *

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

Most Observations
Most Moths
Most Not-Moths

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔

There are three prize packages, and they are not assigned to specific contest categories. Each winner—regardless of which category they win—will choose one prize package from the same set of three. That means every winner picks from the full lineup, and multiple winners may choose the same prize if they wish. The prize packages are not “claimed” or removed once selected.

Prize Package L for Light & Lens
Prize Package M for Mothman
Prize Package P for Plushies

* See posts of this event to see images of the bumper sticker or visit the event webpage at https://www.backyardbutterflies.org/moth-crawl/ *

𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐡

Celebrate your love of all things lepidoptera in style! This year’s exclusive Moth Crawl tee features everyone’s favorite fuzzy friend—the rosy maple moth—illustrated in vibrant, whimsical style by Blue Aster Studio. (Check them out for even more nature-inspired goodness!) Available in adult sizes S–5XL, because moth love comes in all sizes.

Helpful hint: Be sure to order in time to have your T-shirt for the Moth Crawl! Allow for 10-14 days when purchasing for processing and delivery time.

* See posts of this event to see images of the Official Merch or visit the event webpage at https://www.backyardbutterflies.org/moth-crawl/ *


Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Hillsborough.