our research

The Montana Moth Project seeks to document the diversity, distribution, abundance, and ecology of moths in Montana through scientific research, education, and citizen science.

Projects include:

1. Establishing sites for long-term monitoring of diversity, abundance, and phenology of moths in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys of western Montana.
2. Photographing, collecting voucher specimens, and DNA barcoding every moth species occurring in Montana.
3. Creating a Checklist of Montana Moths. This project focuses on working with research professionals and moth enthusiasts to create a checklist of moths occurring in Montana.
4. Investigating moth ecology in post-wildfire habitats. Wildlife is and will be a significant factor influencing forested habitats in the Northern Rockies. It is well known that wildfires create unique habitats but little is known about the role’s moths play in shaping them. Our goals are to:
   • Build pollination networks to identify pollen transport links between moths and plants in post-wildfire successional habitats using DNA barcoding methods.
   • Index and monitor moth diversity, abundance, and phenology between burned and un-burned habitats to help understand how wildfire affects moth populations.
5. Investigating moth ecology in restoration habitats. Much like the research in post-wildfire habitats, this project focuses on moth populations and pollination networks in areas being actively managed to enhance or restore wildlife habitat.
6. Building and engaging a network of citizen scientists to help monitor moth populations in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys, and throughout Montana.

MPG Ranch Insect Monitoring Project

In 2019 we conducted an extensive project using flight-intercept, pitfall, and pan traps and DNA barcoding to gather baseline data about biomass, diversity, abundance, and phenology of insects occurring on MPG Ranch in western Montana. We will use this data to inform a long-term insect monitoring project as part of the ranch’s conservation programs.

Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Partnership

Creating voucher collections is a fundamental part of entomology. We have partnered with the Gillette Museum at Colorado State University to preserve and store a voucher collection of moths and other insects we collect from our monitoring and research sites in Montana. This will create a permanent record of our collections at a highly respected research institution.