Chandigarh: Moths are cryptic creatures of the darkness, irresistibly attracted to light, giving rise to the popular phrase, ‘like moths to a flame’. On Saturday night and Sunday morning, people from all walks of life, including children, gathered at the Sukhna Lake Reserve Forest Nature Trail to learn more about moths lured onto a white screen in the forest using a 200-watt light bulb and trapped in two boxes fitted with light lures. It was the first such event in Chandigarh to showcase moth diversity and promote public awareness.Organised as part of the ‘National Moth Week’ (July 18-25, 2026), the event recorded 50 moth species attracted to the screen and trapped in the two boxes. In addition, a host of other insects, including robber flies, grasshoppers and beetles, were drawn to the screen, allowing visitors a close look and ample opportunity to photograph biodiversity that is not easily visible during daylight hours. The participants remained in the Sukhna forests from 7pm to 10.30pm on Saturday, braving humidity, mosquitoes and the possibility of snakes.Facilitated by the Chandigarh forests and wildlife department, the moth-watching event was organised by PAHAL, a youth organisation based in Jalandhar, and the VirVanam Foundation, Chandigarh. “The aim of the event was to celebrate moth diversity, make the public aware of citizen science and show how they can contribute towards documenting this lesser-known taxa. We plan to take this forward during National Moth Week, with another event scheduled near the Beas floodplains in Jalandhar on July 22, 2026,” Bageshwer Singh, an ecologist and executive member of PAHAL, told TOI at the site.Singh explained the basic differences between moths and butterflies, noting that moths evolved earlier than butterflies. He said moths are important pollinators and a critical part of food chains. He also dispelled misconceptions that moths are venomous or bite humans. Singh highlighted adaptations that help different moth species survive predators. The Sukhna Nature Trail is home to an abundance of geometrid moths.National Moth Week is a global citizen science initiative. It is described as: “Communities around the globe come together to celebrate the beauty, diversity and ecological importance of moths. Participants of all ages contribute valuable data that helps scientists better understand these fascinating insects. People of all ages and backgrounds participate in the mothing hobby by sharing photos of moths they find for citizen science. These contributions help researchers study moth diversity, distribution and ecology worldwide.”
