Celebrate National Moth Week at the Paul Smith's College VIC

PAUL SMITHS, NY (07/19/2013)(readMedia)-- Hundreds of different moth species call the Adirondacks home – and as part of National Moth Week, an expert at the Paul Smith's College VIC will help you encounter as many of them as possible.

Join Prof. Janet Mihuc on Monday, July 22, from 9-11 p.m. as she uses bait and moth-attracting lights to observe and identify different moth species.

"The purpose of National Moth Week is to raise awareness and appreciation of moths and their beauty," Mihuc says. "There are several species that are not only important to their ecosystems but also really interesting to look at. Many people don't realize that they're not all just brow and plain, but actually quite beautiful."

National Moth Week celebrates all kinds of biodiversity; as part of the event, a naturalist will lead VIC visitors on a walk along Heron Marsh from 8-9 p.m., just in time to observe animals that are moving between daytime feeding grounds and their nighttime sleeping grounds, as well as nocturnal animals that are awakening and beginning to search for food. Otters, raccoons and loons are among the species that live near the marsh.

Admission to individual events is $10 per person or $15 for both events. Families will be admitted to both for $25. Friends of the VIC receive a 25 percent discount.

On Tuesday, July 23, National Moth Week continues at the VIC with a free indoor display of the live moths captured the night before. Mihuc will be available from 9-11 a.m. to answer questions at the moth table. Participants are invited to help release the live moths.

Mihuc is an organismal biologist specializing in aquatic and terrestrial insects and birds. She leads Project Silkmoth, a volunteer-based survey that keeps tabs on Giant Silkmoths, a species that could be on the decline throughout the northeastern United States.

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