When: July 25, 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! There will also be an array of night sounds, from numerous frog species singing on the property to Southern Flying Squirrels calling to each other!

The trails at Welch Farm are natural surfaces: mostly even, level ground. There are some stepping hazards at, like roots or mud in the trail, but there is no elevation gain. There is one step-up bridge to cross an oxbow, but this can be avoided if necessary. Little to no walking is required to approach the Mothing Station. 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, our own field guides, and magnifying glasses will be provided. Note that there are no restrooms on the property, but there is a rest stop a few miles up the road towards Andrews.
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
Meet Your Teacher
As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Associate, Alina Martin aims to encourage the protection and appreciation of land by connecting communities to the birds, plants, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that share our home here in the Southern Blue Ridge. Her birding adventures up and down the east coast have introduced her to a wide variety of habitats, and those experiences inspire her to continue nurturing her understanding of wildlife and plant ecology. Armed with her identification knowledge and ever-increasing wonder, Alina leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and finds something curious and new each time. She is a life-long birder, all-around naturalist, and avid user of eBird and iNaturalist.