WINSTON WEEKLY^[1]

May 3, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 18

MARVELOUS MOTHS[2]

With more than 160,000 species worldwide, moths outnumber butterflies by nearly 15 to 1. From the Atlas moth in Asia with a wingspan of nearly a foot to the intricate small phoenix moth, some species migrate in the fall while others survive in place in a cocoon. Southern Canada is home to “winter moths” that remain in their native form throughout the year.

With a life span of a few weeks to a few months, moths are ever-changing. Critical to plant and flower pollination, moths are also an essential food source for birds, bats, many insects, and even some bears. North America is home to more than 13,000 species of moths, with females laying between 60 to upwards of 300 eggs.

With an incredible sense of smell through their antenna, some species are solely nocturnal while others flutter around during the day. The sheep moth in the Pacific Northwest is often mistaken for a butterfly given its bold and beautiful colors. With small and intricate colored wings, the small owlet moth is essential to pollination of numerous Oregon flowers.

July kicks off the annual global event known as National Moth Week. A project of the non-profit Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, one can engage in “mothing” for either enjoyment or for scientific purposes. In 2025 alone, there were more than 45,000 documented observers of moths during the annual event. The most observed species included the painted lichen moth, the jersey tiger moth, the large yellow underwing and the elegant grass-veneer.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

With most students out of school for the summer or headed to summer camps or other activities, consider developing a summer moth project. A word search or a crossword puzzle is a good way to learn letters and words and explore the marvelous world of moths.

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[1] A weekly blog/newsletter by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2]Resources: Moth Facts for Kids, http://www.pestsforkids.com; https;//nationalmothweek.org; David L. Wagner, Moths of the World, Princeton University Press, 2025; David Lees and Albert Zilli, Moths: A Complete Guide to Biology and Behavior, Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 2019.