Moths often get a bad reputation as the destroyers of clothing, food, and foliage, but only a few of the around 25,000 species are actually harmful, and none are directly harmful to humans. Most are beneficial as pollinators, and may be even more helpful than butterflies. Getting to know them is a fascinating study, as you will most likely never exhaust the species near your home and neighborhood.
Close to Home
For beginners, the best place to start is under your porch light. Turn it on before dark, and then wait until a few hours after dark. Grab a magnifying glass, because many moths are extremely small, and head outside. If your porch light happens to attract moths to a glass door, some observation can even be done from inside. Also grab a pencil and notebook if you want to remember what you've seen.
A digital camera can also be handy, if you don't want to spend the time drawing. Experiment with various settings, as photographing moths under a porch light at night can be a bit tricky. Try standing back and setting your camera on a very high resolution instead of getting in close and zooming. High resolution photos are very large; and your pictures can always be cropped later. Take several photos of each moth, and then delete later.
Under a porch light, many moths will come to rest on the side of your house. Theories vary as to why this is; some people believe they become "trapped" in the light and don't know how to get out of it because it confuses them. Others believe they think that the light is sunlight and come to rest, as they would during the day. However, this doesn't answer the question of why they come to the light in the first place.
Sketch or photograph moths you want to remember. Take notes on size, color, wingspan, and position of wings. Note antennae, and look closely to see if your moth has a furry body and legs. Nudge them gently with a pencil eraser or cotton swab (on their side or abdomen tip, not directly on their wings) to see if you can see their under-wings. Many moths, the Underwing moths particularly, have striking colors that are hidden when the moth is at rest. These colors can help with identification.
Remember to turn your porch light off when you are finished observing the moths. Many adult moths have extremely short lifespans (only a few days or weeks), and they need to mate in this short period of time. If they remain under your porch light for a night, much valuable time can be lost.
In the Woods
Try spreading a white sheet between two trees and shining a black-light or other light on it. This will work similarly to your porch light, only you may attract more species in the woods than you would in your backyard. A sheet may also be set up in your back yard, and may be an easier way to photo and observe moths than on the side of your house. You also won't have to worry about disturbing moths that have settled on the door.
Another way to attract moths in the woods is to "sugar" for them. Not all moths are attracted to light, and some of this group are attracted to sugar. Mix up a sugary paste and spread it on tree bark. There are many mothing recipes, but brown sugar and stale beer seem to be popular. Experiment and see what works for you. Bait the trees during the day, and then come back at night. To spot the moths, hold your flashlight against the side of your face at eye-level. Moths' eyes, like cats' eyes, reflect light, and will show up as tiny glowing pinpricks.
Be sure to bring your sketchbook or notepad with you to take notes. See if you find the same species in the woods as you did at your porch light, and if similar species are found at the light and on the baited trees.
Collecting
Many people keep insect collections by catching and killing specimens, and there is really no substitute for examining the insect itself. Even very good photographs and sketches can be a bit misleading, especially when trying to identify species of moths, as many are extremely similar. However, if you are not a scientist who is hoping to help mankind with new discoveries, there is a debate on the ethics of unnecessarily killing moths, as some species are rare or endangered, and as an amateur it is almost impossible to tell if you have a rare specimen or not. I personally recommend keeping a well-organized photo and sketch collection, as well as a list of species. Of course, if you find a dead moth, keep it to study.
Photograph collections can be very well organized on your computer. Keep separate file folders for different groups of moths, different dates, or different locations. Sketches can be organized by kind of moth, although I like organizing by date and location since I usually sketch several moths on one page. Be sure to note if you baited for the moth or if it was attracted to light. If you saw it during the day, note that as well.
Mothing: Just Do It
You really can't mess up at mothing, or moth watching. It takes hardly any equipment, only a little patience, and a willingness to stay up until midnight every now and then. If you scare moths, they often don't fly away completely; just give them a moment and they will settle back down, and you can usually get as close as you want to them if you move carefully. Some will let you gently prod them without flying off. It is more interesting and exciting than it sounds, and if you try it, you just may become addicted.
Source:
Himmelman, John. Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard. Down East Books, 2002.
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