2026 Mothing Night

Last Friday, the Entomology Graduate Student Association (EGSA) at The Ohio State University hosted another successful Mothing Night!

The event took place at Chadwick Arboretum on Ohio State's West Campus, where participants gathered for an evening full of moths, insects, and discovery.

We kicked off the night by learning the basics of moth biology and exploring the important (and often overlooked!) role moths play as nighttime pollinators. It was a great opportunity to appreciate these amazing insects beyond their reputation as "just butterflies' nocturnal cousins."

Participants also had the chance to get up close with fascinating insect specimens—including some truly beautiful moths—and learn more about their incredible diversity.

Of course, the highlight of the evening came after dark. As our light sheets lit up the night, live moths and other nocturnal insects began making their grand entrances, giving everyone a chance to observe them in action. Watching these nighttime visitors arrive one after another never gets old!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us—our EGSA members, community participants, and, of course, our many insect guests who made the night such a success. We couldn't have done it without you!

O! H! I! O!

Missed this one? Don't worry—we have one more Mothing Night coming up at Chadwick Arboretum from 9–11 PM on Friday, August 21st.

If you'd like to stay up to date on future events hosted by Ohio State Entomology graduate students, be sure to follow us on Instagram. We'd love to see you at our next event!

Photo credit: Michelle Pham

Editor: Dahee Ahn