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National Moth Week

Floor Speech

Date: July 15, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Animals and Wildlife Environment

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Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the 10th annual observance of National Moth Week, which will be celebrated this year from July 17 to 25.

What began as a plan for a statewide moth night in my home State of New Jersey evolved into a national week of recognition and quickly became an international citizen science project. In 2012, residents from East Brunswick, NJ, founded this initiative to promote the appreciation and conservation of moths and their important role in the ecosystem. Since then, thousands of people in all 50 U.S. States and 100 countries have participated in observing and documenting moths during this week.

National Moth Week encourages people of all ages and abilities to shine a light on nighttime nature and record what they see. Moths are incredibly diverse members of the Lepidoptera order of insects, with estimates of 150,000 to more than 500,000 moth species. They serve as pollinators of crops and flowers and a food source for birds and other fauna. Enriching mothing events have been held at U.S. National Parks and Monuments; State, county, and local parks; museums, libraries, nature centers, and backyards.

This scientific event is an all-volunteer effort coordinated by the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission with the assistance of a team of entomologists, researchers, educators, and enthusiasts around the world. In addition, country coordinators in Asia, Africa, Europe, Central and South America, and Australia are helping to increase awareness, study and appreciation of moths, their incredible diversity, and ecological importance in their own countries.

National Moth Week has brought people together from many different cultures and ethnicities for the purpose of observing and protecting an important natural resource and dispelling the negative conceptions some may have of moths. It proudly represents the best of the Garden State and its concern for the health of our environment and all of its inhabitants.

It is my great honor to recognize the anniversary of National Moth Week and celebrate the vibrant research and scientific community in the State of New Jersey.

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