Look closerInsects
Moths at the porch light on warm summer nights around Sudbury
When: May to September
On a warm, still night, one porch light pulls in a small sample of the many moths already working the dark around a Sudbury yard.
Why this time of year
Summer nights bring the year's greatest variety of moths to lights, and warm late-August evenings are still well inside that window.
How to notice it
- Turn on a single porch light after full dark on a warm, calm night.
- Check the wall and window screens near the light, not just the bulb; many moths land and sit still.
- For more variety, hang a light-colored sheet or pillowcase where the light hits it.
- When you are done looking, turn the light off for the night.
Try this with kids: How many wing shapes can visit one light in ten minutes?
naturalists call this mothing: putting up a light and seeing who flies in
Safety
- Watch without handling the visitors.
- Keep the session short and turn lights off afterward so night insects can get back to work.
Sources
- sciencefriday.commothing setup with a light and light-colored sheet; summer months are best for the greatest diversity; moths begin arriving almost immediately; more than 10,000 moth species in North America
In the guide for May, June, July, August, September