Citizen Science

See the videos below for more moth trap ideas.

3. Photograph the Moths You Observe

Although some moths are easily recognizable many are difficult to correctly identify. Many moths look similar at first glance but subtle details often differentiate them as different species. That is why capturing photographs of each moth you observe is an effective way to help you identify them.

Pictures should be as “macro” as possible so you’ll want a close-focusing camera. If you already have a DSLR camera purchase a good macro lens, ideally something that will focus at 1 cm. If you are on a budget or don’t have a lot of photography experience some affordable “point-and-shoot” cameras that work well include: Olympus TG, Ricoh WG, and Lumix ZS models. These cameras generally cost between $250-400 and have good macro capabilities. The Olympus TG and Ricoh WG models have especially good macro capabilities with both able to focus at 1 cm allowing you to get detailed, full-frame photographs of even the smallest moths. We use the Olympus TG-5 and TG-6 models and can vouch for their performance, especially in low-light conditions. We especially like the built-in “focus-stacking” ability of these cameras allowing it capture a series of pictures at different focus points then combining them into one image. This allows for a greater depth of field and provides rich details in the photograph.

Lighting is also an important consideration when photographing moths. Moth scales are highly reflective so direct light or conventional camera flashes can cause overexposure that obscures the true colors and patterns of the moth. If you have a DSLR camera consider using some sort of flash diffuser. The Ricoh WG cameras come equipped with six LED lights surrounding the lens which provides diffuse lighting. An LED light guide accessory can be purchased for the Olympus TG models and we highly recommend it. This guide redirects the camera’s built in LED flash to a ring around the lens. We have captured high quality images of moths at night using this accessory.

Photographing moths in the early morning light also works well. One trick is to collect the moths in plastic ramekins (or other container) and place them in the refrigerator for a few hours. Since moths are poikilotherms (cold-blooded) they will slow down their metabolisms and become less active. You can then place them on a white or wood background to take photographs before releasing them unharmed.

If you don’t want to purchase a close-focusing camera, or if you already have a camera but don’t want to purchase a macro lens you can capture good images with your cell phone. Although the digital zoom on most newer phones can capture decent macro shots of moths, finer details and textures are often fuzzy. We suggest purchasing a Xenvo Pro Lens Kit to enhance the capabilities of your cell phone camera. This kit consists of a lens that clips onto your phone camera and provides a 15x optical zoom allowing you to capture high-quality macro shots with impressive clarity. The kit costs $40 on Amazon, is designed to work with iPhone, Samsung, and Pixel models, clips over most cases phone cases, and comes with an additional wide-angle lens, LED light, quick-release lanyard, and hard travel case. We have used this kit a lot with satisfying results.

4. Identify the Moths You Observe/Photograph

There are several resources you can use to identify the moths you trap/observe.

Please check out our Resources page for links to and descriptions of these sources.

5. Participate in Events/Submit Your Moth Observations/Volunteer

Consider participating in National Moth Week, a week-long celebration of the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths and takes place annually during the third week of July. Visit the National Moth Week website or follow them on Facebook for details, to register, or find an event near you.

Consider submitting your moth observations/pictures to Leps by Fieldguide and/or iNaturalist. The links to these sites are listed on our Resources page. If you decide to submit observations to iNaturalist and live in Montana, consider joining the NRRES Montana Moth project. We are excited to see your moth observations and can offer help in identification.

Also, check out our Facebook page to keep up-to-date with our research and upcoming events. Contact us directly if you’re interested in volunteering or have any moth-related questions