NMW Events for 17-26 July 2015
Friday, July 17 — 9:30 p.m., Agassiz Shelter, Turtle River State Park, Arvilla, North Dakota.
We now have photographic evidence to support the theory that ‘there is something genuinely surrealistic about spending an evening with moths.’ Turtle River State Park, Arvilla, North Dakota (17 July 2015). Photograph by Sharon Watson.
Our National Moth Week began with a small gathering on a dark and stormy, rain-soaked Friday night. Sharon and Alan Watson, Carl and Shelby Barrentine, and Joe Jennings rendezvoused at the Agassiz Sheltered Picnic area in torrential rains between 9:30-9:45 p.m., set up two lights and a sheet on cold but covered concrete slab, and waited patiently for the rain to stop and the moths to come.
Torrential rains fall on the first mothing event of National Moth Week 2015, Turtle River State Park, Arvilla, North Dakota (17 July 2015). Photograph by Sharon Watson.
Downpours continued intermittently between 9:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m, but eventually, finally, about 11:00 p.m., some ‘good’ moths appeared as skies cleared. Two children, a brother and sister from the nearby camping area, were also drawn to the lights. We enjoyed a good time catching moths and examining a host of other nocturnal insects while munching fistfuls of soggy, buttered popcorn.
Joe shares a educational moment thumbing through a few field guides to identify a insect with a neophyte entomologist. Turtle River State Park, Arvilla, North Dakota (17 July 2015). Photograph by Sharon Watson.
Look for these Upcoming NMW Events in North Dakota
July 13-26– Art and Caterpillar Display Cases, Grand Forks Public Library. See the three ‘Moth Month’ display cases at the Grand Forks Public Library. The display case on the main floor introduces close up images of moths and moth anatomy. The display cases on the second floor will feature live spurge hawkmoth and tobacco hornworm sphinx moth caterpillars. Dr. Becky Simmons invites children to attend daily feedings. A schedule will be posted soon in the Children’s Library. Contact Aaron Stefanich for more information (701.772.8116, ext. 13) .
Wednesday, July 22 – 6:00 p.m., ‘Garden Club’ Activity: Bees, Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars at the Children’s Library, Grand Forks Public Library. From 6-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dr. Laura Munski and the Dakota Science Center will sponsor a ‘Garden Club’ activity at the Children’s Library. The aim here is to help children better understand the important roles pollinating insects play in the production of the food we eat.
Friday, July 24 – 8:00 p.m., Amphitheater, Turtle River State Park, Arvilla. Dr. Rebecca Simmons, moth researcher and UND biology professor, will discuss how some species of moths have evolved some very clever strategies to avoid predators as well as some astonishing ways to communicate with one another in their efforts to survive and reproduce on the darkest of nights. Becky’s presentation will begin at 8:00 p.m. Enthusiastic moth-watchers will ‘night-light’ for moths until 11:00 p.m. (or later?) after Becky’s presentation. Please remember that all vehicles should display a daily or seasonal permit.
Saturday, July 25 – 9:00 a.m., Information Center, Turtle River State Park, Arvilla. Erika Kolbow and Joe Jennings, TRSP Interpretative Naturalists, will involve children in an activity that will us a closer look and better understanding of the variety of moths found at the Turtle River State Park. Participants will examine, identify and release moths captured the night before. Please remember that all vehicles should display a daily or seasonal permit.
Saturday, July 25 – 8:00 p.m., Amphitheater, Turtle River State Park, Arvilla. Dr. Carl Barrentine will introduce us to the common and unusual moths that can be found at the Turtle River State Park. Carl has been catching and photographing moths in northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota for the last four years (see www.dakotanaturalist.com). Carl’s presentation will begin at 8:00 p.m. Enthusiastic moth-watchers will ‘night-light’ for moths until 11:00 p.m. (or later?) after Carl’s presentation. Please remember that all vehicles should display a daily or seasonal permit.
2015 North Dakota National Moth Week Participants:
Aaron Stefanich, Children’s library, GFPL, 701.772.8116, ext. 13
Becca Devine, biology student, UND, 701.741.7871, rebecca.devine@my.und.edu
Becky Simmons, biology prof, UND , 701.777.3439 (UND), rebecca.simmons@email.und.edu
Carl Barrentine, retired prof, UND, 701.330-7374, lucretius40@hotmail.com, www.dakotanaturalist.com, https://www.youtube.com/user/Lucretius41, http://bugguide.net/user/view/40711
Erika Kolbow, interpretive naturalist, TRSP, 701.594.4445 (office), ekolbow@nd.gov
Jerry Fauske, Research Specialist and Collections Manager, North Dakota State Insect Research Collection, NDSU, 701.231.9491
Joe Jennings, interpretive naturalist, TRSP, 701.594.4445 (office)
Katherine Hernandez, biology grad student, UND, katherine.hernandez@my.und.edu
Laura Munski, Director, Dakota Science Center, dakota.science@gmail.com, www.dakota-science.org
Sharon Watson, Caterpillar Expert/Naturalist/Wildlife Photographer, sharons_photography@infionline.net
Some Local and National Educational Resources
National Moth Week: http://nationalmothweek.org/
Moths of North Dakota: http//www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~gefauske/ndmoths/home.htm
Dakota Naturalist: http://www.dakotanaturalist.com/
Dakota Science Center: http://www.dakota-science.org/
Turtle River State Park: http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/parks/trsp/trsp.html
Grand Forks Public Library: http://www.gflibrary.com/index.aspx?NID=9
University of North Dakota Biology: http://arts-sciences.und.edu/biology/
Mothing and Moth-watching (FaceBook Groups): https://www.facebook.com/groups/137219092972521/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothsofeasternnorthamerica/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/299626730096119/
Moth Photographers Group: mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/
Pacific Northwest Moths: pnwmoths.biol.wwu.edu/
Dakota Naturalist 