An Evening of Blacklighting
June 20, 2026 9:30PM - 10:30PM
Beal Botanical Garden
Contact: Amanda Lorenz lorenzam@msu.edu
Blacklighting is a unique way of using light to attract nocturnal insects to a specific location so they can be examined and photographed. This method is commonly used by entomologists to study insects. It involves shining a special type of light on a surface, usually a bedsheet, where insects gather as the evening progresses. Guests can expect to see moths, beetles, lacewings and many other types of insects.
At the Beal Garden, multiple lights will be set up in different areas, and guests will be invited to rotate between stations to observe the variety of insects present throughout the garden. Visitors may wish to bring a water bottle, mosquito repellent and a small flashlight.