May 21
Nocturnes— Moths: Mystics of the night
Program Description
In contrast to the moths of India featured in the film, this presentation will focus on local lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), their life cycles, and how they are doing in Iowa.
Film Synopsis
In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, moths are whispering something to us.
In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe. Together, they are on an expedition to decode these nocturnal creatures in a remote ecological “hot spot” on the border of India and Bhutan. The result is a deeply immersive film that transports audiences to a rarely-seen place and urges us all to look more closely at the hidden interconnections of the natural world.
About the Speaker
Photographer, birdwatcher, and former avionics engineer Jim Durbin is past president and current board member of the Cedar Rapids Audubon Society as well as the co-author of Moths in Your Pocket: A Guide to the Saturn and Sphinx Moths of the Upper Midwest.
A graduate of the University of Iowa with a certificate in Museum Studies, Reid Durbin currently works at the UI Museum of Natural History.