Photo courtesy of M. Stepanek
Don’t miss this special event at the Spring Creek Forest Preserve – An Evening with Moths – July 22 at 8:30 p.m. – 1770 Holford Road. Event is free and open to everyone.
Sam Kieschnick, Urban Wildlife Biologist for DFW Texas Parks and Wildlife, will be at the event with his team. They will set up light-stations to entice night-time insects to rest on the back-lit sheets. On the sheets, they can be viewed in detail with a magnifying glass. Participants of all ages love this unusual annual event. However, all children must be accompanied by an adult the entire time.
This family-friendly event is coordinated with National Moth Week, a citizen-science event which celebrates the beauty, life cycles and habitats of moths. Additionally, the information collected at the event helps scientists around the country to track things such as the surge or decline in species, changes to habitat range and more.
Experts will be available to answer questions and help with identification. Bring a magnifying glass if you have one, as many of these moths are very small.
Why Moths? (From the National Moth Week site at nationalmothweek.org)
- Moths are among the most diverse and successful organisms on earth.
- Scientists estimate there are 150,000 to more than 500,000 moth species.
- Their colors and patterns are either dazzling or so cryptic that they define camouflage. Shapes and sizes span the gamut from as small as a pinhead to as large as an adult’s hand.
- Most moths are nocturnal and need to be sought at night to be seen – others fly like butterflies during the day.
- Finding moths can be as simple as leaving a porch light on and checking it after dark. Serious moth aficionados use special lights and baits to attract them.
The evening isn’t only about moths. Many other types of insects will also be identified. All observations will be reported to iNaturalist, the citizen-science app that is run by National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences. To date, over 200 insect species have been identified at the preserve. As an added attraction, other animals wander through – we have seen toads, copperheads and other snakes, a rabbit or two and heard very loud frogs.
Don’t forget:
- Parking is limited. Please carpool if possible.
- Apply insect repellent.
- Wear close-toed shoes, not sandals.
- Bring magnifying glass if possible.