What a Enjoyable Moth Night!

The Bohart Museum of Entomology’s annual Moth Night, held Saturday, July 18, was “so much fun,” stated Tabatha Yang, schooling and outreach coordinator.

“We enjoy sharing the big diverse world of moths with folks from all over,” Yang stated. “We also appreciated our moth experts sharing knowledge with people. The Dixon library also came out to support science education an summer reading and learning.”

“It was also great to collaborate with Joel Hernandez (UC Davis entomology alumnus and agricultural inspector in the Yolo County Ag Commissioner’s Office) and the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden hosting a backlighting event later in the evening by the Shields Oak Grove.” It occurred from 9:30 to 11:30. A spotlight of the night: a large silkworm moth, Anthaeraea polyphemus, fluttered to the backlighting setup.

“This giant silkworm moth was the highlight of the evening,” agreed Hernandez and Bohart analysis affiliate John “Moth Man” de Benedictus.

“Joel cried out ‘No way!’ when it flew in and there was a roar from the visitors,” de Benedictus stated. ” It landed quietly on the drop cloth beneath the sheets providing a photo op.  Joel collected it alive and caged it, giving everyone an opportunity to look at it closely.”

Of the moth, Anthaeraea polyphemus, de Benedictus stated: “ Joel collected it alive and caged it giving everyone an opportunity to look at it closely.  It is probably more common than collection records suggest in Davis because the peak flight is in the wee hours of the morning, so unseen by most people.  Most of the moths that are encountered earlier in the evening are females as was the case with the one that came to Joel’s sheet.  At least two generations per year.  Possibly three in our region.  It is found across the continent and feeds on many trees and shrubs.  Joel thinks oaks are the most common foodplant in Davis.” 

Bachelorette Party

The Bohart Museum open home, free and household pleasant, additionally marked a “first”: the primary time for a bachelorette get together.  Bride-to-be  Mason Young, a third-year pupil majoring in biochemistry at Napa Valley College arrived with 4 of her pals.  

This marked her second go to to the Bohart. Young held a variety of critters, together with a supermodel and a hornworm. But the very best half? “The best part or me was definitely the blacklight! I have been interested in entomology for a long time.” Young plans to switch to both UC Davis or Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. 

At the open home, guests

• seen a show of moth specimens managed by Jeff Smith, curator of the Lepidoptera assortment, who was assisted by Bohart affiliate Greg Kareofelas
• examined moths underneath the microscope
• discovered about silk moths from Turkish doctor Ismail Seker, who rears and pictures them and revealed a e book
• discovered about moth migration from UC Davis doctoral pupil Peter Coggan
• bought acquainted with Madagascar hissing cockroaches and stick bugs from the Bohart Museum’s reside petting zoo
• made moth antennae headbands bans
• drew pictures of moths and different bugs on the “Chalk Walk” in entrance of the constructing.
• listened to a consultant from the Dixon library

National Moth Week

The Bohart Museum yearly marks National Moth Week, which this yr is July 18-26. 

Located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis,  the Bohart Museum is the house of a world-class assortment of eight million insect specimens; a reside petting zoo (together with Madagascar hissing cockroaches, stick bugs and tarantulas) and an insect-themed present store, stocked with T-shirts, hoodies, books, posters, jewellery, stuffed toy animals, and insect-collecting tools.

Noted entomologist Richard Bohart, a UC Davis entomology professor, based the insect museum in 1946.

Director of the Bohart Museum is Professor Jason Bond, the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair of Systematics. He is the manager affiliate dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and president of the American Arachnological Society. 

For extra data on the Bohart Museum, entry the website or contact bmuseum@ucdavis.edu.