Blacklighting at Tyson Research Center

On the 24th of July, during the new moon and National Moth Week, the WGNSS Entomology Group set up several blacklighting stations at Tyson Research Center as a start of an entomological survey. Between WGNSS members, TRC staff and students from Washington University, I estimate there were 25-30 people in attendance until around midnight. Overall, I think the evening was a success and the numbers and diversity of insects was good. We had a few nice highlight species, but because of the number of people, I did not spend time trying to remove moths from the sheet and onto a natural background. I still have a few to process, but this post covers the moths I cared to photograph.

Many thanks to Katie Westby and Rich Thoma for organizing this event. I’d also like to thank jwileyrains at butterfliesandmoths.org for confirming and helping me with some identifications.

Family Crambidae

Family Erebidae

Family Geometridae

Family Limacodidae

Family Noctuidae

Family Saturniidae

Family Sphingidae

I’m looking forward to a few more blacklighting sessions before the season ends and I will share what I find here on the blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

-OZB