Marion Man and Colleague Have Collected, Identified Over 1,800 Types of Moths

Marion resident Jim Durbin and Cedar Rapids resident Frank Olsen are self-tought lepidopterists — as in they study moths.

The two have researched and identified over 1,800 moth species in Iowa over the last 15 years. 

They told the Gazette that much of their work was done to identify 1,200 moth species in Iowa, as the common assumption among lepidopterists in the nineties dictated that Iowa had 120 species of butterflies and ten times the number of moth species.

Now they're thinking there's around 2,500 moth species in Iowa.

It doesn't seem like easy work either.

They work at night since moths are nocturnal, setting up traps composed of nets and black lights. The elaborate set up have also attracted "skunks, park rangers and deputy sheriffs," according to Durbin.

For more information, check out the labors of Durbin and Oleson's passion at the insects of Iowa website, or read the full Gazette story.