Moths of Camano and Stanwood

Pam uses the Entolight, a black light that emits two wavelengths of UV light (365 & 395nm). It is designed to attract night-flying insects and can be purchased from entoquip.com. She places the light in front of a white sheet in the evening. The next morning, she photographs the moths that are resting on the sheet or collects them in small plastic cups with lids, refrigerates them to cool down and immobilize them, then photographs and releases them.

The 280 species on the Camano list represents 8 years of observations on a 5.5 acre parcel with native coniferous and deciduous plants (Douglas fir, cedar, alder, willow, red flowering currant, wild cherry, oceanspray, etc.) and a seasonal wetland.

Pam moved to Stanwood in 2025. Her black light there is set in an urban environment close to a greenbelt with native plants (cedar, Douglas Fir, willow, cottonwood) and a seasonal wetland. The Stanwood greenbelt has more willow than the Camano property. The Stanwood list started on 6/22/25 and has 88 species as of 11/30/25, with almost half (41) of them not on the Camano list. 

You can find her photographs and records of these moths from Pam and other observers on sites such as

• Butterflies and Moths of North America - BAMONA

• BugGuide.net

• Moth Photographers Group

Citizen scientists make important contributions!