Nighttime Mothing at Welch Farm

When: July 24, 2025 @ 9:00 pm

Moth sheet hosting a variety of insects attracted with black light

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!

Male (foreground) and female (background) Eastern Hercules Beetles (Dynastes tityus), a species of rhinoceros beetle native to the Eastern United States. Photographed by Alina Martin

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

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.

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