UW Art Museum and Biodiversity Institute Co

The University of Wyoming Art Museum and UW Biodiversity Institute, along with artist and biologist Brandon Ballengée, will co-host “Discover Moths: Citizen Science Evening Mothing Event” as part of “National Moth Week” Monday, July 25, from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at Laramie’s Depot Park.

“Discover Moths” is a hands-on evening event for finding and identifying native moths that are attracted to Ballengée’s installation “Love Motel for Insects: Laramie Depot Park Variation and Pollinator Garden.” Ballengée, UW biologist Scott Schell, retired biologist John Nordin and students from the Wyoming Entomology Club will conduct nocturnal pollinator tours, free and open to the public. This event includes the opportunity to try cricket cookies and mealworm zucchini bread, courtesy of the Wyoming Entomology Club.

“National Moth Week” celebrates the beauty, life cycles and habitats of moths. “Moth-ers” of all ages and abilities are encouraged to learn about, observe and document moths in their backyards, parks and neighborhoods. “National Moth Week” takes place, worldwide, during the last full week of July. The week offers everyone, everywhere a unique opportunity to become a citizen scientist and contribute scientific data about moths.

Citizen science allows for members of the community to work with biologists to collect scientific data that are used for a research purpose. During “Discover Moths,” participants will learn key features for identifying species or families, and together tally the number and diversity of moths. The information will be uploaded to WyoBio, an online portal for citizen science data in Wyoming, and made available to entomologists in the state and beyond.

For more information, call the Art Museum at (307) 766-6622, visit the website at www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum, or follow the museum on Facebook.

Through its “Museum as Classroom” approach, the UW Art Museum places art at the center of learning for all ages. Located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Drive in Laramie, the museum is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday hours are extended to 7 p.m. February through April and September through November. Admission is free.