Anyone who’s ever sat near a street light or porch light on a summer evening has seen the effect that light has on moths—they love it! You can use this use this behavior to easily observe night-flying moths. All you need is a light source, a surface for moths to rest on, and a dry, still evening outside.

Step 1: Hang a Sheet



Hang a sheet vertically outdoors away from other artificial lights on a windless, dry evening. Moths can be observed nearly year-round in above-freezing temperatures, but summer months are best for viewing the greatest diversity of moths. To make it easier to spot moths when they arrive, choose a light-colored sheet.

Step 2: Find a light source



Any type of light works to attract moths. Bright lights and those that produce shorter wavelengths of light such as UV light or “black light” will attract a wider variety of moths. For best results, make sure that your light is bright enough to illuminate most of the sheet.

Step 3: Light up the sheet, and wait for moths!



Turn on your light so that it fully-illuminates your sheet – moths should begin arriving almost immediately. Bring a hand lens and digital camera to observe and document your moth sightings. Different moths will arrive at different times throughout the evening, so be patient!