Most people love butterflies but shy away from moths. Last week, I was at a wedding in the countryside when one of my friends became frightened by a moth that had flown towards the lights. Yet, if it had been a butterfly, they would probably have admired it instead. That moment made me wonder: why do we treat these close relatives so differently?

Moths are every bit as colourful, fascinating and important as butterflies. While butterflies steal the spotlight during the day, moths quietly take over the night, pollinating flowers, providing food for bats and birds, and helping our ecosystems thrive. They are the unsung night managers of places like Avon Wildlife Trust’s Grow Wilder nature reserve, carrying out essential work while most of us are asleep.

This National Moth Week, it's time to look beyond the myths and give these remarkable insects the appreciation they deserve.

First, what is National Moth Week?

National Moth Week is an annual celebration of moths that takes place during the last full week of July, when warm summer nights provide the perfect conditions for many species to be active. During the week, wildlife organisations, conservationists and nature enthusiasts set up light traps to gently attract moths overnight. The moths are then identified, recorded and safely released the following morning.

These records help us monitor moth populations, understand how wildlife is changing over time and inform conservation efforts. They also give people the chance to discover the incredible diversity of moths that often goes unnoticed after dark.

Amazing moth facts

You might be surprised to learn that there are more than 2,500 species of moth in the UK alone. Across the world, there are many thousands more, making moths one of the most diverse groups of insects.

From tiny, barely noticeable micro-moths to large, striking species with intricate patterns and colours, their variety is incredible. Yet most of this diversity goes completely unnoticed because moths are active at night, when few of us are looking.

Myths about moths

This National Moth Week, we should take the opportunity to break some common myths about moths so that more people can appreciate them.

One of the most widespread misconceptions is that moths eat our clothes. In reality, only a very small number of moth species are associated with fabrics, and the vast majority have nothing to do with clothing at all.

Another myth is that moths are just dull, brown insects. While some species are subtle in colour, many are beautifully patterned and surprisingly vibrant. The Elephant Hawkmoth has striking pink and olive-green wings, while the Jersey Tiger lives up to its name with bold black-and-white striped wings and flashes of bright orange when it takes flight. My personal favourite, however, is Basilodes pepita, also known as the Gold moth. Its shimmering golden wings immediately caught my attention and, as a fan of all things shiny (Taylor Swift fans might understand!), it's hard not to love it. From rich golds and silvers to intricate markings that look almost hand-painted, moths can be every bit as striking as butterflies, if not more so.

By looking beyond these myths, we begin to see moths for what they really are: diverse, fascinating, and essential parts of our natural world.

How does moth trapping work?

At dusk, we set up a light trap that gently attracts moths overnight. Inside, they settle safely among egg boxes until the following morning, when we identify and record each species before releasing them unharmed.

Does moth trapping hurt moths?

No. Light trapping is a safe and widely used conservation method. The moths are handled carefully, recorded, and released back into the wild. The information we collect helps us monitor moth populations and better understand the health of local habitats. 

What we found in our last session 

In our last moth trapping Youth Event, we found some pretty moths, including:

Other species recorded included broad-bordered yellow underwing, large wainscot, the uncertain, the lackey, heart and dart, nut-tree tussock, common footman, large yellow underwing, codling moth, lime-speck pug, dark arches, double square-spot and mottled rustic.

Join us

These curious explorers are discovering the night world of moths. If you want to join us, come along to one of our moth trapping sessions at Grow Wilder!

We have moth trapping sessions for 14 - 25 years old running in July and August. Whether you're a beginner or a wildlife enthusiast, you'll get the chance to see these incredible insects up close and help us record the species that call Grow Wilder home.

Discover more of our events