When: July 23, 2025 @ 9:00 pm

Celebrate National Moth Week!
This is one of thirteen Mothing Events hosted by Mainspring this week at Welch Farm Preserve in Cherokee County and Jackrabbit Recreation Area in Clay County.
The Southern Blue Ridge is home to a huge diversity of moths, from giant Silk moths to teeny tiny Grass moths! Hidden under the cloak of darkness, we don’t often have a chance to appreciate these nocturnal beauties like we do butterflies, but moths are just as stunning as their daytime cousins. Join us to discover the difference between moths and butterflies, reveal the inner workings of the moth life-cycle and why they depend on native plants, and learn how to attract these valuable nighttime pollinators to your own property.
During this event, we will have an active moth sheets set up. We will be using black lights and home-brewed bait to safely attract the insects to our mothing station. This will give participants the opportunity to observe these wild animals closely and compare them with similar species. We will see a variety of different moth species as well as lots of cool native beetles! We will start the evening with a frog walk as the moths come out. There will be an array of night sounds, from numerous frog species calling to each other along Lake Chatuge to the Chuck-Wills-Widow singing his dusk song.

The trails at Jackrabbit Trail Head are natural surface that vary in elevation, from gentle incline to medium steep incline, and there are some stepping hazards such as roots, rocks, or mud in the trail. Little is required to approach the Mothing Station or participate in the frog walk, which will be on level ground. We suggest bringing water, a snack, layers, sturdy hiking shoes, and any naturalist tools you may want such as a notebook, hand lens, or field guide. Moths, other insects, our own field guides, and magnifying glasses will be provided. Note that there are restrooms on this property.
Email Alina at [email protected] if you have any questions.
MAINSPRING’S NATIONAL MOTH WEEK EVENT DATES
Saturday, July 19th: Welch Farm Preserve, 9pm-11pm
Sunday, July 20th: Welch Farm Preserve, 10am-noon
Sunday, July 20th: Welch Farm Preserve, 9pm-11pm
Monday, July 21st: Welch Farm Preserve, 10am-noon
Monday, July 21st: Jackrabbit Recreation Area, 9pm-11pm
Tuesday, July 22nd: Jackrabbit Recreation Area, 10am-noon
Tuesday, July 22nd: Jackrabbit Recreation Area, 9pm-11pm
Wednesday, July 23rd: Jackrabbit Recreation Area, 9pm-11pm
Thursday, July 24th: Jackrabbit Recreation Area, 10am-noon
Thursday, July 24th: Welch Farm Preserve, 9pm-11pm
Friday, July 25th: Welch Farm Preserve, 10am-noon
Friday, July 25th: Welch Farm Preserve, 9pm-11pm
Saturday, July 26th: Welch Farm Preserve, 10am-noon