Speaker Series at Saluda Library

Free Saluda Library Speaker Series: Moths and Why We Need to Think About Them Differently

When many people think about moths, they probably don’t consider them beautiful, very diverse, or worthy of protecting. But guess what? Moths outnumber butterflies ten to one! Worldwide there are more than 160,000 species of moths and about 17,500 of butterflies. Moths and their caterpillars are the foundation of the food chain, especially appealing to songbird parents who must feed their growing chicks. The diversity is shocking, as are the colors, shapes and adaptations. There are moths with fake eyes, moths with perfect camouflage hiding secret colors, moths that mimic other insects, moths with long tails meant to outsmart bats, moths that sleep in flowers, moths with long proboscises that can reach deep into the nectary of flowers, and moths with antennae so perfect you’d swear they were feathers. There are yellow and pink moths, delicate green moths, and moths with intricate designs that look hand-painted.

In this program we get an introduction to the amazing world of moths, including a chance to see and learn about some of our more amazing local moths. We’ll also learn about their important place in the food web and how we can make our yards and outdoor spaces more moth friendly.

Advance registration is required. RSVP at: https://conservingcarolina.org/