Moth sightings Abound During an Evening on Sandy Hook

By Samantha Hemming, American Littoral Society Coastal Education Intern  

On the last Friday night in July, moth admirers from across the tri-state joined the American Littoral Society in the Sandy Hook maritime forest to celebrate National Moth Week!
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The evening's activities were led by Senior Ecologist at GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. and moth expert Blaine Rothauser, who offered insight on New Jersey’s rich moth biodiversity and the significance of those winged insects in our ecosystem. 

To draw in the stars of the show, Rothauser draped a white tarp over his truck and illuminated it with a strong white light on one side and UV light on the other. The light blinds the moths, placing them in a docile state that allows them to be held. Participants of all ages and levels of moth knowledge crowded together with Blaine to learn how to identify and handle the beautiful bugs.

As the night progressed, different moths emerged at different hours, with the largest and most diverse moths coming out after 10 pm. 

The group consisted of moth scientists with a professional camera, teenagers with a passion for moths, and others with no prior moth knowledge who just wanted to enjoy a nature-filled Friday evening. Our youngest participant shared that she raises moths at home and encouraged other wary participants to be hands-on and pose with the moths for memorable pictures. 

The moths that joined us varied in color, size, and shape - including two chocolate moths, which excited the moth experts. 

The largest and most vibrant moth of the evening was the regal or royal walnut moth. Our teenage moth fanatic was thrilled to see this moth as he had been on the lookout for it since his fascination began. It had a 5.5-inch wingspan, and Rothauser explained that its colors were extra vibrant because it had just emerged from its cocoon.
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The Littoral Society conducts nature walks of various kinds throughout the year. Find out how you can join us on a future excursion through our website calendar or sign up for our monthly events enewsletter. Special thanks to Blaine Rothauser for the incredible photos.

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