7th Annual Moth Night at Backyard Butterflies

✨7th Annual Moth Night at Backyard Butterflies✨
A National Moth Week Celebration
Communing with Moths

Welcome to Annual Moth Night

Launched in 2019, our Annual Moth Night has become a welcoming introduction to the glowing world of mothing—an all-ages, all-skills, mercury vapor light powered journey into nocturnal nature.

The evening begins with a brief PowerPoint presentation designed to guide newcomers through the basics: what equipment is used, how to get started, which field guides and apps are helpful, and what fascinating creatures you’re likely to spot on the collecting sheets.

Seasoned moth’ers who already speak the language of LepiLEDs and pheromones are welcome to skip the presentation and flutter in after 9:00 PM—just in time for start of moth activity.

Bring a camera or smartphone, sign up for a free iNaturalist account, and upload your nighttime discoveries to contribute to citizen science. Join the official Moth Night project to enter our contest and you might win a limited-edition Moth Night t-shirt—perfect for impressing friends, neighbors, and possibly Mothman himself.

Though the event officially ends at 11:30, we’ll keep the lights on as long as people want to observe.

🚗 Important Note on Registration

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED and LIMITED due to parking space.
Register by car, not by person—so fill that vehicle up like a clown car full of nature lovers. The more the merrier (and mothier).

Moth Night registration opens June 19 and closes July 18—or sooner if we run out of parking spots for your mothmobiles! Due to space limits, we can’t offer a waitlist or add extra spots, so grab your slot before it flutters away!

Making a donation does not generate a registration or reserve a space for you at the event

⛈️ Weather Warnings (Because Moths Are Divas)

Mothing only works when the weather plays nice. If it rains or the moths unionize, we’ll email updates to registered attendees. No rain date—but never fear! If the weather ruins our fun, we’ll be doing it all again next Saturday at Brumley Forest Nature Preserve. Moth party, round two. Registration is also required for that event.

🧳 What Should You Bring?

• A flashlight or headlamp (mood lighting, but for insects)

• A comfy outdoor chair (your butt will thank you)

• A camera (or your phone—moths love selfies)

• Snacks/non-alcoholic drinks (bribes for children and grownups alike)

• Insect repellent (you’re welcome)

• Anything else that makes sitting in the dark surrounded by bugs more delightful

👖 What to Wear (Yes, We Have Opinions)

• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes: flip-flops are a fast track to regret

• Long pants and a snug shirt: moths are nosy and will crawl into any gap they find

• Optional: your finest cryptid-spotting attire

🔦 The Glowy Stuff

We’ll have three light stations to attract our fluttery friends:

• Two high-tech LepiLED sheets

• One mercury vapor/UV sheet, aka the moth rave zone

📱 iNaturalist Mini Contest – Get Nerdy, Win Stuff

Join our official iNaturalist project and help us ID what shows up. Become a citizen scientist (no lab coat needed) and win prizes a free Moth Night T-shirt in the following categories:

• Most Observations

• Most Moth Species

• Most Non-Moth Species (looking at you, tree hoppers and beetles)

Click here to join the contest and here to read the rules and eligibility requirements.

👕 Moth Night Merch Alert!

Snag your Limited Edition Moth Night 2025 T-shirt—available now through July 31! These babies are print-on-demand and ship straight to your doorstep. Order early so you can wear yours to the event and flex your moth cred.

Click here to order your shirt

Shipping rate starts at $4.75.