Cooler summer nights present an opportunity to observe an often overlooked group of insects — moths. Alabama has an incredible diversity of moths with more than 1,000 species. Some people may consider moths drab in appearance, but certain species have striking coloration, including the luna moth (Actias luna) and the rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda). Other moths like the Pandorus sphinx moth (Eumorpha pandorus) effectively use camouflage to prevent predation. Moths vary in size. Large species, such as the Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), possess wings spanning several inches. Smaller species with wings less than an inch long such include the southern emerald moth (Synchlora frondaria).  

Observing Moths

There are several methods used to attract or trap moths for closer observation. One is a simple light trap. Hang a white sheet on a clothesline or over a tree branch. Turn off all nearby lights and shine a light onto the sheet. Keep in mind that some moth species are attracted to black lights and will not appear when using standard white lights. Battery powered black lights can be bought for approximately $20. Aim the light toward the sheet and observe the moths that appear.

Also, adding strips of cloth soaked with wine or juice from rotted fruit will attract certain types of Noctuid moths (also known as Owlet moths). More and more moths will be attracted as the night goes on so be sure to check periodically throughout the evening.

Another method of attracting moths is to make a moth bucket trap using a five-gallon bucket. Place a paper egg carton in the bucket along with a funnel and light source. Turn on the light at night and come back to find the moth species living nearby. An online search for do-it-yourself moth bucket traps should provide numerous results for additional inspiration.  

Recording Observations

Moth observations can be tracked and reported through iNaturalist, the crowd-sourced nature observation platform. For 2025, National Moth Week is July 19 – 27. This is a great time to get out and observe these insects. Then, upload moth observation pictures into iNaturalist and contribute to the annual assessment of moth species.

In either the browser version of the iNaturalist platform or the app, use the search bar to find the “National Moth Week 2025: Alabama” project and click the join button to add your moth observations during this week. If observing moths outside of Alabama during this time, it’s still possible to join other state’s projects and contribute findings. During other times of year, join the “Moths of Alabama” project on iNaturalist and add observations to the growing record of moths in our diverse state.