Moth Bioblitz at Fife Wetland Preserve

Help Photograph Local Moths 

"Mothing" is the practice of attracting, observing, and documenting moths for enjoyment or scientific study. Join NHMU, Utah Valley University, and scientists from SLC Mosquito Abatement as we gather to look for moths in SLC. This survey will help researchers study moth diversity, distribution, and ecology worldwide! 

What to expect: Mothing lights and equipment will be set-up by event hosts on the southern side of the preserve, near the trail, and will remain in this location until 11pm. Using this equipment, moth-ers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to photograph moths (and other insects) observed onsite. Photos added to iNaturalist will be visible in our local iNaturalist project, and also the National Moth Week Bioblitz project. 

Event schedule:

This is a free, drop-in event

• 9:00 PM: Event start, ongoing mothing
• 11:00 PM: Event wraps

Event Location & Parking: NHMU will be set-up on the southern side of the Fred and Ila Rose Fife Wetland Preserve. To find us, park along W 900 S or W Montague Ave (on the east side of the property), and walk a short distance along the Jordan River Parkway Trail to the 9 Line Trail bridge that leads to the Fred and Isla Rose Fife Wetland Preserve. 

Recommended attire & supplies: Bring your own headlamp or flashlight to navigate outdoor terrain safely, and come equipped with a camera (mobile device or other), to make iNaturalist observations of moths. We recommend wearing long pants & close-toed shoes. 

Additional Considerations: Please be aware that there is not a bathroom onsite at The Fife Wetland, trails are un-paved, and unmarked hazards may exist on the property. 

More on moths and National Moth Week:

• Did you know? Moths are among the most diverse and successful organisms on Earth, with an estimated 150,000 to 500,000 moth species found around the globe!
• NHMU has been making iNaturalist observations at the Fife Wetland Preserve every summer since 2016.
• National Moth Week (July 19-27, 2025) is an annual global event that invites people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in mothing, and to share photos they take for citizen science. More about National Moth Week at nationalmothweek.org
• Keep those Moth observations coming through July 27th! Any photo of a moth you add to iNaturalist from Jul 19-27th will automaticall be added to the National Moth Week bioblitz page. Happy Exploring!