Brigette Zacharszenko, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut, examined the moths drawn to a spotlighted sheet on the Norfolk village green on July 22, while two young residents of Norfolk looked on. Zacharszenko began across the street in the library with a discussion of the major types of moths, their behaviors and distinguishing characteristics. She said that the luna moth has no mouthparts, that the sphinx moth, with a wingspan of up to four inches, can sound like an airplane zooming in and feel like a bird when it bumps into your head. After nightfall, the group moved to the green to see what moths had been attracted. “Look, that one is a Pyralid!” a participant was heard to say, “it has a long snout!” Another said, “Check out the wing markings, that is definitely a tiger moth.”

Photos by Wiley Wood.