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Moth Field Trip
Judy Gallagher briefly recaps a magical summer evening surveying moths and other nocturnal creatures at Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area Pollinator Garden during Moth Week.
Photo: Tulip Tree Beauty, Judy Gallagher
Judy Gallagher
I always enjoy being in the field, but it is a rare privilege to be in the field at night. On July 31 we set up a black light at the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) Pollinator Garden to celebrate Moth Week, and 14 of us spent several hours experiencing nature at its best. We saw 19 moth species including this Tulip Tree Beauty male with his gorgeous feathery antennae. But moths weren't the only stars of the show. Coyotes howled and yipped in the distance. A Barred Owl hooted softly. And there were bats. We hope you have the opportunity to come on a night outing with us in the future.
Moth Week Resources
Judy Gallagher hosted an excellent workshop and field trip on moths. Here are some resources from her presentation.
Photo: Io Moth, Judy Gallagher
Judy Gallagher hosted an excellent workshop and field trip on moths. Here are some resources from her presentation.
The video of Judy’s workshop on July 29, 2021 can be accessed on our Vimeo channel.
To see more of Judy's amazing photographs, visit her site on Flickr.
Here are a few online resources from Judy:
Discover Life - You can specify characteristics like month in which you see the moth, forewing color, etc. and a list of moths that meet your search criteria will be returned.
Bug Guide - You can submit a picture with details about where and when you saw the moth (or any other North American insect) and it will be ID'd by experts.
iNaturalist - This is for all living organisms. You submit a photograph of the species, either through the app on your phone, or using a picture from your computer. iNaturalist has Artificial Intelligence that can help narrow down your choices.
Moth Photographers Group - This is the most comprehensive resource for American moths, but is challenging to use for the novice.
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)- This has pictures and descriptions of moths and butterflies, and you can submit pictures for ID, and also document occurrences.
NOTE: it is not always possible to ID a moth from a photograph.
Texts Judy recommends:
Moths: A Complete Guide to Biology & Behavior
Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America
Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Southeastern North America
Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History