National Moth Week 2026: Celebrate With Crafts And Trivia At A Charles County Library

INDIAN HEAD, Md. —Butterflies may get most of the attention during the day, but their close relatives are taking over the spotlight this week.

Moths, sometimes nicknamed “nighttime butterflies,” come in thousands of shapes, colors and sizes. During National Moth Week, families are encouraged to look more closely at the insects gathering around porch lights, resting on screens and fluttering through backyards after dark.

The worldwide celebration runs Saturday, July 18, through Sunday, July 26, 2026. It encourages people to observe, photograph and document moths in their backyards, parks and communities.

What Is National Moth Week?

National Moth Week is a volunteer-led global event celebrating moths and the people who study them.

The event is organized by the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, a nonprofit based in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

During the week, people participate in “mothing,” which means attracting, observing, photographing and identifying moths. Participants can enjoy the activity for fun or submit their observations to citizen science programs.

Events range from simple backyard observations to organized moth nights hosted by parks, schools, nature centers and environmental groups.

Photographs and observations collected during National Moth Week can help researchers study where different moth species live and how their populations change over time.

Moths are also an important part of the ecosystem. Like butterflies, many moths help pollinate plants. They also provide food for birds, bats and other animals.

National Moth Week is held during the last full week of July each year. Midsummer is one of the best times to find moths across much of the Northern Hemisphere, and using the same time period each year can make the information easier for researchers to compare.

Getting started does not require special equipment.

An outdoor light and a nearby wall, sheet or screen can create a simple moth-watching station. A porch light is often enough to attract several species after dark.

Once a moth arrives, participants can take a photograph and submit it through one of National Moth Week’s partner apps or websites for identification and documentation.

Organizers are also encouraging people to share moth-inspired artwork on social media using the hashtag #MothWeek26Art.

Celebrate At The Potomac Branch Library

The Potomac Branch of the Charles County Public Library will host a Moth Appreciation Station from Monday, July 20, through Friday, July 24.

The free, self-guided program will feature crafts and trivia centered on moths found in Maryland.

Visitors can stop by once or return throughout the week to learn about a different moth and create a replica to take home.

For questions, call the Potomac Branch at 301-375-7375 or email potomacref@ccplonline.org.

More information about National Moth Week, including how to participate or register an event, is available at nationalmothweek.org.

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