III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 70 

Designating the last full week of July 2013 as ‘‘National Moth Week’’, 

recognizing the importance of moths in the United States, and recognizing the value of National Moth Week for promoting the conservation 

of moths and increasing the awareness, study, and appreciation of moths, 

their incredible biodiversity, and their importance to ecosystem health. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 7, 2013 

Mr. MENENDEZ submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the last full week of July 2013 as ‘‘National 

Moth Week’’, recognizing the importance of moths in 

the United States, and recognizing the value of National 

Moth Week for promoting the conservation of moths 

and increasing the awareness, study, and appreciation 

of moths, their incredible biodiversity, and their importance to ecosystem health. 

Whereas moths are an incredibly diverse type of insect, with 

more than 12,000 species in the continental United 

States and Canada; 

Whereas moths live everywhere and in every habitat, from 

inner cities to the most remote and wild places; 

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•SRES 70 IS 

Whereas moths are important pollinators and are an essential 

part of the food web, providing food for a vast number 

of birds, bats, and other animals; 

Whereas moths are indicators of a healthy environment, as 

habitats rich in moths are diverse in other insects and 

wildlife; 

Whereas monitoring the diversity and distribution of moths 

can provide vital clues to changes in the environment; 

Whereas knowledge about many moths and moth caterpillars 

is limited; 

Whereas scientists believe that many moth species may be declining; 

Whereas the lack of natural history information about many 

moth species provides an opportunity for an individual to 

potentially make a meaningful scientific contribution relating to moths; 

Whereas National Moth Week, which was established in 2011 

in East Brunswick, New Jersey by the Friends of the 

East Brunswick Environmental Commission, is a national 

and global collaboration of many individuals, environmental groups, and conservation organizations focusing 

much-needed attention on moths and their ecological, 

educational, and cultural significance; 

Whereas participants of National Moth Week events collect 

valuable information about moths and make that information available to naturalists, ecologists, and conservation scientists; 

Whereas National Moth Week is intended to encourage everyone, especially citizen scientists, to help increase knowledge about moths through observation and study; 

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•SRES 70 IS 

Whereas National Moth Week was celebrated from July 23 

through July 29, 2012, in more than 300 participating 

locations in 49 States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and 28 countries; 

Whereas National Moth Week is celebrated each summer during the last full week in July; and 

Whereas the National Moth Week Web site, 

www.nationalmothweek.org, is filled with information and 

resources relating to moths: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the last full week of July 2013 

3 as ‘‘National Moth Week’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the importance of moths in the 

5 United States and the value of National Moth Week 

6 for promoting the conservation of moths and in7 creasing the awareness, study, and appreciation of 

8 moths, their incredible biodiversity, and their impor9 tance to ecosystem health; 

10 (3) applauds National Moth Week and the ef11 forts of participants to increase awareness about the 

12 important role of moths and build support for in13 creasing the study, appreciation, and conservation of 

14 moths; and 

15 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

16 to observe National Moth Week with appropriate ac17 tivities. 

Æ 

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