National Moth Week in Southampton, N.J. helps to connect people with the environment

A crowd of 50 surrounded a 175 KW ultraviolet blacklight with a pale sheet to learn about moths during the first ever National Moth Week in Southampton, New Jersey. The July event is one of over 200 events occurring in different locations through July 29.

The conservation group, Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, started National Moth Week.

National Moth nights have been held elsewhere in the past, but Elena Tartaglia, a Ph.D candidate in ecology from Rutgers University, says that “this week is the first time when a full week is dedicated to learning about moths.”

Currently, there are 49 states in The U.S. and 20 countries participating in the event.

Experts say there are more than 10,000 species of moths compared to about 725 regularly occurring species of butterflies in North America.

Moths, however, also contribute positively to native ecosystems. These furry, winged insects serve as food for bats, foxes, and even coyotes. Unhealthy populations or counts of moths can help detect environmental changes. Moths are also nocturnal pollinators and through pollination help restore native wildlife. Their ability to fly up to five kilometers away provides greater chances of cross-pollination between plant species.

“Outcross allows for new genetic species to emerge,” Tartaglia said.

While Moth Week served as an educational event for many who attended, others found it to be a helpful example of how they could set up their own moth events.

“I tried holding my own moth nights, but I didn’t get any moths. I used baits with old bananas and beer and I got ants, but no moths,” Edgewater Park, N.J. resident Steve Mattan said.

Thanks to the outdoor demonstration, Mattan says he realized what he was doing wrong.

Even beginners participating in Moth Week said they were excited to learn more.

Joseph Acerbo, an excited 10-year-old from Mount Laurel, N.J., ran around the blacklight catching moths in round, glass cups.

“I liked learning about a moth’s life cycle,” he said.

His mother, Barbara, later mentioned possibly setting up their own moth night at their home: “We home school, so a moth night is right up Joseph’s alley.”

By learning about the role of moths in ecosystems, many people became more comfortable with the exposure to moths. Nancy Brown drove 43 miles from Point Pleasant, N.J. with her husband, Terry, a retired high school science teacher.

“Now, when friends cringe at moths, I can educate them,” Brown said.

“I am not a biology person but I want to see something and learn something. You have to understand that moths are pollinators and they eat nectar.”

Organizers say this week’s National Moth Week certainly won’t be the last they hold.

“People aren’t going to care unless they make that connection with the environment,” Amy Karpati, a staff biologist for the Pinelands Preservation Alliance said.

You can learn more about National Moth Night events on the organization’s website.