The Florida Museum of Natural History will host a free nighttime program combining science and art to explore the world of nocturnal insects on Sunday, July 19.
“Nocturnal Neighbors: Insect Neighbors and Puppets” will take place from 9 to 11 p.m. at the Field & Fork office building (1062 Museum Rd.) near the University of Florida bat houses. The event is free, but advance registration is required. For more information or to reserve a spot, visit the Florida Museum of Natural History’s event webpage.
The interactive workshop, in collaboration with the University of Florida Field & Fork Farm and Gardens, begins with a presentation by Florida Museum lepidopterist Vaughn Shirey, who will discuss nocturnal insects and the importance of insect conservation. Participants will then create their own shadow puppets using paper, popsicle sticks, scissors and hole punches under the guidance of local artist Ang DeCarlis. All materials will be provided.
A light sheet will be set up outdoors, allowing attendees to display their shadow puppets while observing the diversity of insect species active at night. The event also serves as the kickoff to National Moth Week, which runs July 18-26.
“Caring about and conserving nature is not solely linked to science but also to our connection to the natural world,” Shirey said in a press release. “An arts-based approach touches on the emotional relationship to nature in addition to the cool scientific facts about the species that occupy our nighttime environments.”
Shirey said moths represent one of the most diverse groups of insects.
“As a butterfly ecologist, I have to hand it to moths for the highest diversity of species and even cooler life histories,” he said in a press release. “There are about 10 times as many moth species compared to butterflies, and they fill all sorts of important ecological roles in our environment.”
Because portions of the program will take place outdoors after dark, organizers encourage participants to wear appropriate footwear and clothing that can get dirty or wet.