The Bohart Museum of Entomology's annual Moth Night, held Saturday, July 18, was "so much fun," said Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator.
"We enjoy sharing the big diverse world of moths with folks from all over," Yang said. "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 took place from 9:30 to 11:30. A highlight of the evening: a giant silkworm moth, Anthaeraea polyphemus, fluttered to the backlighting setup.
"This giant silkworm moth was the highlight of the evening," agreed Hernandez and Bohart research associate John "Moth Man" de Benedictus.
"Joel cried out 'No way!' when it flew in and there was a roar from the visitors," de Benedictus said. " 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 said: " 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 house, free and family friendly, also marked a "first": the first time for a bachelorette party. Bride-to-be Mason Young, a third-year student majoring in biochemistry at Napa Valley College arrived with four of her friends.
This marked her second visit to the Bohart. Young held a number of critters, including a stick insect and a hornworm. But the best part? "The best part or me was definitely the blacklight! I have been interested in entomology for a long time." Young plans to transfer to either UC Davis or Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
At the open house, visitors
- viewed a display of moth specimens managed by Jeff Smith, curator of the Lepidoptera collection, who was assisted by Bohart associate Greg Kareofelas
- examined moths under the microscope
- learned about silk moths from Turkish physician Ismail Seker, who rears and photographs them and published a book
- learned about moth migration from UC Davis doctoral student Peter Coggan
- got acquainted with Madagascar hissing cockroaches and stick insects from the Bohart Museum's live petting zoo
- made moth antennae headbands bans
- drew images of moths and other insects on the "Chalk Walk" in front of the building.
- listened to a representative from the Dixon library
National Moth Week
The Bohart Museum annually marks National Moth Week, which this year is July 18-26.
Located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis, the Bohart Museum is the home of a world-class collection of eight million insect specimens; a live petting zoo (including Madagascar hissing cockroaches, stick insects and tarantulas) and an insect-themed gift shop, stocked with T-shirts, hoodies, books, posters, jewelry, stuffed toy animals, and insect-collecting equipment.
Noted entomologist Richard Bohart, a UC Davis entomology professor, founded 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 executive associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and president of the American Arachnological Society.
For more information on the Bohart Museum, access the website or contact bmuseum@ucdavis.edu.
