“Putting on Moth Goggles – A conversation about moths in California’s ecosystems”

Marin Chapter Meeting

“Putting on Moth Goggles – A conversation about moths in California’s ecosystems”

Speakers: Allen Fish, former director of Golden Gate Raptor Observatory and Catherine Chang, Adjunct Professor, USF Architecture Program

Monday, August 10, 2026, 7:30 pm

More than 3700 species of Lepidoptera call California home, and more than 90% of these are moths!  Often overlooked and maligned, moths are essential native plant pollinators and a critical food source for songbirds and bats. They also have a dizzying range of sizes and shapes, and boast color patterns and schemes that would knock the socks off any clothes designer.

Cat Chang and Allen Fish will introduce how enjoyable it has been to learn about moths and how easy it is — once you have your moth goggles! — to find and attract them. We will highlight the close ecological relationships between moth species and their larval host plants, demonstrating how host specificity is important for understanding moth biology, identification, and conservation. Some of the species we will highlight will include recent summer sightings, along with moths we can expect to see in the fall.

Register for this Zoom meeting here.