​Is there a fee to join?

No, there is no fee to join and everyone involved is a volunteer.​​

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Do you accept beginners?

​No experience, no problem. All you need is a love of nature and a sense of adventure (think: treasure hunt). Of course, we also welcome those with a naturalist background.

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How many species have you found?

We've recorded 164 species so far, with more added to the list each year. We often see a dozen or more species in a single session, with the record being 25.

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​​Do you find anything else?

​Here are some of the other things we have seen fluorescing while searching for caterpillars: snails, slugs, millipedes, spiders, beetles, true bugs, bees, dragonflies, cicadas, praying mantises, fungi, lichens, mosses, and various parts of plants (leaves, flowers, fruits, etc.).

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Do I need any specialized equipment?

UV flashlights are provided for use. We will also loan you a pair of UV safety glasses for your first few sessions. After that, you will have to purchase your own. You can get a pair for $10-$20. (Those who wear prescription eyeglasses already have UV protection, so won't need safety glasses).​​​

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Why not start sessions earlier?​​​​​​

Two reasons: 1) The fluorescent light produced when UV light is shined on caterpillars is weak and can only be seen when it is dark, so sessions need to take place after sunset, and 2) Our entire survey season falls within the period of daylight savings time, pushing sunset back by an hour. The good news is that beginning in early August, as sunset starts getting earlier, we are able to start and end our sessions earlier.​​​​​