Mothing / Lightsheeting April 2026
The sun had set, white sheet was lit, toward the glow a moth did flit!
On Friday the 24th of April, curious explorers followed lights into the forest to find a purple glow. This glow was coming from a blacklight against a white sheet, set up to attract moths and other insects of the night. The first guest to arrive was a Scarab beetle, the next, a soldier beetle. Calmly entering the party was a Drepanulatrix moth, interrupted by the vibrating wings of an Alfalfa Looper. One creature thought this was a BYOB (bring your own bug) party, hastily crafted a web, and caught a meal in front of
everyone. Very rude of this Orbweaver spider, but not entirely unexpected. Can you believe this display did nothing to faze the Common Eupithecia Moth, the American Idia Moth, or even the Merry Graphic Moth in attendance!? Not to be outdone by the various species around it, the Large Yellow Underwing moths sent out a memo to their relatives and showed up in force.
All in all, a night of fun was had by everyone!
- Best Party Crasher Award goes to: Ophion of Ichneumonid wasps.
- Best Dressed goes to: Oregon Prominent moth (pictured below)
- Best Moon-Bather Award goes to: Pine Tip moth (Rhyacionia)
- The Wallflower Award goes to: Spittlebug (Aphrophora)
- Dazed and Confused Award goes to: Large Yellow Underwing atop a Shoulderband Snail (pictured below)
