We decided the 2024 VMN recertification pin would be a moth, and we invited VMN volunteers to submit their artwork of any moth species native to Virginia. Why a moth? We chose this group of organisms because moths are underappreciated, yet they are beautiful and very important parts of the food web. This winning artwork by Rosalind Ilett (VMN Roanoke Valley Chapter) was selected based on input from several insect experts from our sponsoring agencies and volunteer corps. Thank you to Eric Day (Virginia Tech Department of Entomology), Anne Chazal (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage Program), and Joella Killian (VMN volunteer, Central Rappahannock Chapter and retired professor, University of Mary Washington.) We received so many wonderful submissions, and you can view them all in our recent newsletter article.

Taken from VMN – Bi-weekly Email for November 13, Tiffany Brown.