![]() How does light pollution affect the number of moths that are attracted to your light?įind a place where you can set up two sheets with identical light sources: one in a dark area, and one that is well-lit by artificial lights such as porch lights, stadium lights, or street lights. How long does it take predators to figure out that moths are available at your sheet? What kinds of predator are attracted to it? Many moth observers, or “moth-ers,” have found that if they set up a sheet and light multiple nights in a row, moth predators such as bats, owls, and even spiders begin to learn that there’s a nightly buffet! Try setting up a sheet multiple nights in a row for a few hours each night and observe your sheet from a distance. What types of predators eat moths in your area? Which color attracts the most moths? You can also try comparing an incandescent flashlight to one that uses LEDs-is there a difference in how many moths are attracted to each? ![]() Set the flashlights on a table shining on the sheet and count the number of moths that touch each spot of light every 20 minutes. Get three matching flashlights and cover each with a different color of cellophane. What colors of light are most attractive to moths? With just a sheet and some lights, you can begin conducting your own experiments to better understand moth ecology, behavior, and physiology. For trickier species, use online communities like, Project Noah, and What’s That Bug, which have photos of moth species already identified and allow users to submit their own photos for identification by a community of experts. To tell individual moth species apart, start with moth guidebooks-they are great for identifying large and distinct species, and many also provide images of the caterpillars of moth species as well. The types of moths that arrive at your sheet will be influenced by the location, time of day, season, light source, nearby habitat, and the presence or absence of other nearby artificial light sources. “Unidentified Moth” by Danny Chapman, CC-BY 2.0 While some of these other types of insects may appear moth-like, you can tell moths apart by the scales that cover their wings, bodies, and even legs-most moths appear furry! A moth showing characteristic scaled body and wings. You may also find a whole variety of other types of insect arrive at your sheet besides moths, including lacewings, stoneflies, alderflies and dobsonflies, caddisflies, and mayflies. With more than 10,000 species of moths in North America alone, it can be a bit overwhelming to begin identifying moths for the first time. Different moths will arrive at different times throughout the evening, so be patient! Bring a hand lens and digital camera to observe and document your moth sightings. Turn on your light so that it fully-illuminates your sheet – moths should begin arriving almost immediately. Step 3: Light up the sheet, and wait for moths! For best results, make sure that your light is bright enough to illuminate most of the sheet. Bright lights and those that produce shorter wavelengths of light such as UV light or “black light” will attract a wider variety of moths. Step 2: Find a light sourceĪny type of light works to attract moths. ![]() To make it easier to spot moths when they arrive, choose a light-colored sheet. Moths can be observed nearly year-round in above-freezing temperatures, but summer months are best for viewing the greatest diversity of moths. Hang a sheet vertically outdoors away from other artificial lights on a windless, dry evening. All you need is a light source, a surface for moths to rest on, and a dry, still evening outside. Anyone who’s ever sat near a street light or porch light on a summer evening has seen the effect that light has on moths-they love it! You can use this use this behavior to easily observe night-flying moths. ![]()
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