Episode 45: Montana Moth Project

In this month’s episode, we have a fun conversation with Marian Kirst. If you have never taken a second to think about moths, please stop and listen to this episode. Have your mind blown! She works for the Montana Moth Project, a flagship program of the Northern Rockies Research and Educational Services, and is here with her inspiring passion to open your minds to how cool these little creatures are, their importance as pollinators, and how they may be affected by climate change.

Simple ways you can help moths:

• Reduce your light pollution (only have lights on when needed, shield your lights so they are pointed down, change your light bulbs)
• Post photos of moths you see on iNaturalist
• Come out for citizen science projects, like mothing nights run by Montana Moth Project at the Audubon Center in Billings (contact Marian for more details)

Resources from the podcast:

• MontanaMothProject.org
• Colorado State University and their C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity (Where MMP collection is stored)
• Chuck Heart, Macro moth specialist
• Peterson Field Guide
• “Moths of Western North America” by Jerry A. Powell and Paul A. Opler
• Moth Photographers Group Website (Maps where moths are tracked, and pictures to help with identification)
• Pacific Northwest Moths Website
• Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission (Run Moth Week each year)
• Moths and Moth Watching Facebook Group
• Research article on clothes moths