Do you know the moths in your area? Since most fly at night, they’re not so easy to meet. Why not throw a moth party? The first step is to send out an invitation. Here’s how:

MAKE A MAGIC MOTH MIX

WHAT YOU NEED

• bowl and spoon
• an overripe banana or two (the squishier, the better)
• a handful of brown sugar
• a bit of sticky sweetener, such as molasses or maple syrup
• some fruit juice that’s turned sour (leaving it out for a couple of days should do the trick)

WHAT YOU DO

1. Smush the banana till goopy.
2. Add the next two ingredients. Then mix in the juice, a little at a time, until the goop is like very thick mud.
3. It wouldn’t hurt to let the mixture sit out to spoil for another day or two.

SET THE TABLE. . .AND PARTY ON!

WHAT YOU NEED

• container of your bait mix
• paintbrush (2-3 inches wide)
• flashlight
• an adult companion
• hand wipes

WHAT YOU DO

1. Find a safe spot nearby with several big trees. Take the bait there around sunset.
2. Paint the bait on a tree at about your height. Spread it in an area about the size of this magazine. (Try not to let any bait drip on the ground, which might attract other creatures.)
3. Once it’s completely dark out, go back quietly with a flashlight and see who accepted your invitation.

TIP: A red filter over the flashlight  lens would let you see the moths without scaring them away.

No trees? No problem. Paint a big stick with the bait or soak a thick cotton cord in it. Then hang it outside a window.