National Moth Night (NMN)
is Britain’s celebration of moths and moth recording. It was
launched in 1999 and has taken place annually since then, the date
varying each year in order to focus recording effort on different
parts of the season. Atropos
(the journal for butterfly, moth and dragonfly enthusiasts) and
InsectLine (the telephone information service for butterfly, moth
and dragonfly enthusiasts) originally launched the event, but
it is now run jointly by Atropos
and Butterfly
Conservation (the UK charity taking action to save butterflies,
moths and their habitats).
On the designated date, participants throughout the British Isles
are encouraged to record the moths in their chosen location and
the results are pooled into Britain’s largest survey of what
species are flying around the country. Much important information
has been generated, including new county records, new sites for
scarce species and records of rare immigrants. Public events take
place around the country, which can be a great introduction to the
world of moths. National Moth Night grabs the imagination of those
taking part and has involved some fine displays of British eccentricity
in terms of unusual methods of recording moths, as well
as visits to some unusual locations.
So get involved with National Moth Night
2008 and find out what’s flying in your area |