In honor of National Moth Week, my favorite daytime moth.

Yesterday evening, I stopped by Lee Memorial Library to release a newly hatched Black Swallowtail Butterfly.

Several youngsters were on hand to watch. Since we did not have a name ready, I asked an adorable young boy named Declan what to name it.

He giggled and turned shy, so I made an executive decision and named the butterfly "Lillian," after long-time Allendale resident Lillian Thomas, who now lives in Massachusetts and turns 99 next month.

When we went outside to release Lillian, the butterfly stayed on my thumb long enough for folks to take a photo.

I then showed Lillian to Declan, who giggled again as she flew off.

I asked Declan what he wanted to name the next butterfly.  His reply: "Sally."

His mom said she had no idea how he came up with the name, but "Sally" it is. We'll also name a future butterfly after a certain charming young boy.

The photos are of Lillian on my thumb (photo by Carmela Calabro(, Lillian just before her release, a closeup of her empty chrysalis, and Declan admiring Lillian (photo by Bernadette McCabe Kelly).

Closeup of Lillian and my thumb by Carmela Calabro; photo of Declan admiring Lillian by Bernadette McCabe Kelly. (Click image to enlarge.)

Who is this guy? 

Photographed locally by Laurie Kearns Hagaman. (Thanks, Laurie!)

Last night's National Moth Week kickoff at the historic John Fell House was one nifty event.

It featured:

• A terrific talk on moths by National Moth Week founder Elena Tartaglia.
• Amazing insects attracted to Elena's moth light, including assorted moths, a Dobsonfly and two lichen bugs. (I will post more on this bug this week.)
• An outdoor screening of "Mothra Vs. Godzilla," featuring  a giant moth, giant caterpillars and more -- all on Lee Memorial Library's incredible new outdoor projector, screen and sound system.
• Lots of moth fans, movie fans, and moth-movie fans.
• Free popcorn and bottled water.

Brought to you by Lee Memorial Library, the Fell House and the Fyke Nature Association with help from a grant from the Pitkin Foundation.

A big thank you to all who participated.

       Photo by Patty Finn

Lee Memorial Library, the Fyke Nature Association, and the historic John Fell House are helping kick off National Moth Week with Moth Night at the Fell House tonight.

We will start at 8:15 with a short talk by National Moth Week founder Elena Tartaglia, and we will have some lights and sheets to attract moths.

We will show "Mothra Vs. Godzilla" around 8:45 p.m. or so on Lee Memorial Library's outdoor proector and screen.

We will have bottles of cold water and bags of popcorn.

The event is free and open to the public.  If you think you need bug spray, please don't use an aerosol. We are trying to attract moths, not kill them.

The Fell House is at 475 Franklin Turnpike, caddy-corner across from the Celery Farm.

Questions? Email me at [email protected].

You can read more about National Moth Week here:

https://nationalmothweek.org/

Moth Night is part of Allendale's Butterfly Summer, brought to you thanks to a generous grant from the Winifred M. and George P. Pitkin Foundation.