Moth Mania

(See details at the bottom of this page.)

Event focus: Moths (nocturnal)

Presenter: Ted Wilson, Biology Professor at Viterbo University

Activity: The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration would like you to join us for an evening on their land on St. Joseph Ridge.  Partnering again with Driftless Area BioBlitz, we will be learning about moths and other nocturnal insects.  After a short presentation, we will explore the ridgetop looking for as many different organisms as we can see, cataloging them by taking a picture and posting it to the iNaturalist app.  Here’s hoping we see more fireflies than mosquitoes!

This event will take place on top of a ridge with no steep edges.  The presentation will be on a grassy lawn, and species-finding will follow on a natural prairie and some forested area, including paved and unpaved trails.  This event is for all ages and abilities.  Please bring personal insect repellent, a flashlight, and dress for the weather. We hope to see you there!

About the Presenter: Hello, my name is Ted Wilson, I am the chair of the Biology Department at Viterbo University and have been teaching at the university level for 18 years.  I have a PhD in entomology from Iowa State University and am currently mentoring undergraduate research projects at Viterbo.  The most recent projects have included pollinator studies focusing on the native mason bee and examining the nocturnal insect species in the La Crosse area.  I really enjoy engaging the community, especially when we can get out into nature together!

Part of the Spotlight on Nature Event Series

The series, part of the Driftless Area BioBlitz 2022 Nature Challenge, is your chance to participate in a bioblitz with experts sharing their passion for and knowledge of the driftless region. There will be eight different events, each focusing on various taxa like fungi, moss and lichens, pollinator plants, birds, and insects, including nocturnal and decomposers.

Please note:

• Registration is not required for this event
• Event is weather dependent.
• We will be following CDC COVID guidelines