National Moth Week shines the porch light on an unlikely hero. Unlike their showier cousins, butterflies, moths get a bad rap from time to time, and that’s fair, as caterpillars of some moth species are agricultural pests. But before you break out the mothballs, take a gander at winged wonders like the comet moth, shown here. Scientists estimate that there are some 160,000 species of moths worldwide, many just as stunning as our comet moth, and tracking their health often helps us gauge the health of entire ecosystems.
And you thought moths were boring
Today in History
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Busy building wetlands
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It s World Poetry Day
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Protecting endangered giants
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Corona Arch near Moab, Utah
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National Panda Day
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A winter wonderland in Northeast China
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A gorge-ous mill in the Causses
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Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
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Once upon a midafternoon dreary…
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Earth Day
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Waimea Canyon and Waipoo Falls, Kauai, Hawaii
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The citadel in Bonifacio, Southern Corsica, France
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The Spirit of Harlem by Louis Delsarte
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Fujian Tulou, China
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Cherry blossoms at the National Mall, Washington, DC
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Pollinators: not to be sneezed at
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Wyoming celebrates its statehood
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The Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve in Siberia, Russia
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A history of Vinland
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Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
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Autumn in the cypress swamp
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1.1 billion opportunities for a better world
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Queen Elizabeth s Platinum Jubilee
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National Fossil Day
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Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana
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Classical music takes center stage
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Pamukkale, Turkey
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National Audubon Society s Christmas Bird Count
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Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah
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Happy Lunar New Year!