A moonless, warm night with no wind is best for moths. Little effort or difficulty makes mothing a plus to enjoy the night out. Moths are attracted to a white sheet lit up by black lights. The sheet looks like a blue big screen tv in the dark, but its really a tent over a rope with a table underneath to set the lights on. This allows you to view moths without bending over.

The large silkworm or underwings are the most desirabel, but smaller ones are also diverse and numerous. "Lbm" stands for little brown moth and represents many that are hard to identify. Bair made of stale beer, fruit, and brown sugar attracts nectar seeking moths like underwings, so called because of their colorful yellow and orange hind wings. By lifting the forewing wihile the moth is at rest, you can see the pattern. A moth field guide is a necessity, but even with one its hard to id some of the numerousless distinct moths.

Meanwhile, owls and other sleep talking birds like cuckoos, whippoor-wills, and sedge wrens give a night call. Insects and frogs also give out songs to make the darkneess alive with sound.

A bug zapper with the killer electric grid disconnected, works well in the back yard. A shite shirt over the zapper gives the moths something to land on and diffuses the light. If you want to venture afield, a battery powered light is just the thing to get the elusive night flying hawk moths or silkworm behemoths. Give it a try and see if you don't get hooked.

By J. Baxter