National Moth Week and Why It Matters

By Heather Skinner

SCHOHARIE - Did you know July 19 – 27 has been known as National Moth Week since 2012?

Many may be familiar with moth caterpillars of the Isabella Tiger Moth, which are commonly referred to as Woolly Bears. Many enjoy predicting how harsh or mild an upcoming winter will be based on their coloration; more orange indicating mild, more black indicating snowier.

Moths play an important role in our ecosystem. When you think pollinators, bees and butterflies may be first to spring to your mind. According to a DarkSky International post shared on Facebook by local author, Anita Sanchez, moths are the largest group of night pollinators carrying on that important work while we sleep.

What can we do to help moths in return for doing so much for us? The good news is there seems to be a pattern of the same response to this question, meaning what will help moths, will also help many other insects, animals, and plants in the process! Sanchez explained, “The best thing people can do for moths, I think, is to not use pesticides. Spraying ants or wasps, treating lawns with pesticides, getting rid of weeds with Round-Up, all could potentially harm moths, butterflies and other insects.. Another really important thing is to turn off outside lights. Moths need darkness to go about their business, and lights disorient and confuse them.”

Regarding lights, DarkSky mentioned in a YouTube video that switching to amber lights from bright, white lights can help prevent misguiding moths to circle them until exhausted instead of pollinating.

Sanchez has graciously shared an excerpt with us from the fantastic book by Sanchez and her husband, George Steele; Wait Till It Gets Dark: A Kid's Guide to Exploring the Night. More information about this book can be found at www.AnitaSanchez.com and it is available through Amazon:

“Darkness is in danger!

Humans have done such a thorough job of lighting up the night that real darkness has become hard to find. We tend to think of light as “good” and darkness as “bad,” but too much light can destroy the beauty and mystery of the nighttime. Without darkness we can’t see the Milky Way, or wish on a falling star. We need night so we can listen to katydids and coyotes, watch bats and moths swoop and dart, and enjoy firefly fireworks.

Wildlife need the night, too. “Light pollution” can harm animals as much as toxic chemicals do. Countless species need natural cycles of light and dark to migrate, hunt for food, and find mates. Even plants depend on light cues for growing and making seeds. When we light up the night, we lose the natural rhythm of light and dark.

Save the Dark

A light bulb is not always a bright idea! Much of the artificial lighting that humans use is wasted in uselessly lighting up the sky. Take a look at the outdoor lighting in your yard and neighborhood. Is there a way it could be more dark-sky friendly?

--Could your family use dimmer switches, timers, or motion sensors to cut down on outdoor lighting?

--Turn off lights, especially outdoor lights, when not in use (a great way to save energy and money, too.)

--For information on dark-sky friendly lighting, see the website of the International Dark-Sky Association: http://darksky.org/lighting/lighting-basics/

Find the Dark

Where can you go to explore nature at night? Your own backyard is the first place to start. Are there parks or playgrounds in your neighborhood that you can safely visit at night?

Then check out your local nature center or community park—do they offer night programs like owl prowls or night-time nature walks? A bird club might have guided walks to seek out nocturnal birds like woodcock, whip-poor-wills, and owls.

Also, look for local astronomy clubs—many organizations of astronomers hold “star parties” and welcome amateur star-gazers. They know where the darkest places are!

The International Dark Sky Foundation is an organization that works to protect nature’s darkness. They designate places, including state and national parks, as Dark Sky Preserves. Find out if there’s one near you at http://darksky.org.”

To continue learning about the natural world with Sanchez and Steele, many more of their books can be found on Amazon. In addition, Steele works at Landis Arboretum, which is located at 174 Lape Rd, Esperance, NY. Steele will be conducting a Discovery Tuesday Pond Exploration at 10 AM on July 29th at the Schoharie Library (located at 103 Knower Ave), and a weeklong exploration of art and nature through programs at the Cobleskill Community Library (located at 110 Union Street) starting on August 5th at 2 PM. Sanchez will be hosting a Geology Rocks! workshop for kids in grades K-5 at the Middleburgh Library (located at 323 Main Street) on August 7th at 1 PM (registration is required through the Middleburgh Library’s website event calendar for this event).