Moth Mania for National Moth Week

Did y'all know there is a National Moth Week? Well, Sr Mothra Stewart sure did, and she's been fluttering on and on about it, lately. Calm down, grrl! You're gonna break an antennae!

Last Friday, she helped Anne "Cupcake" Townsend at the Illinois Extension paint some local species of moths for an event this week at the Cache River State Natural Area, sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension. She's also been out in her yard at night, mothing with a light and a sheet, inviting all her friends to party! Give a grrl an excuse and she will run with it!

Yesterday (Thursday, July 27), Sr Mothra Stewart was a featured guest at The Carbondale Science Center's "Moth Mania" event. She enjoyed coloring with kids and talking about the differences and similarities between moths and butterflies. When some young boys wanted to quiz her about her Godzilla and Mothra knowledge, she did not disappoint! That moth nun can flit between science and popular culture so easily. The Carbondale Science Center was excited to have her as a contributing guest and encouraged The SOIL Sisters to participate in future events.

She also appeared on this week's episode of WDBX's "Isn't It Queer" (she has inside connections!) to offer some commentary about National Moth Week and a bit of a plug for the Netflix movie, Nimona. You can hear her contribution at the 45:10 mark of this week's IIQ podcast.

So sure, yeah, moths are very on brand for our Sr Mothra Stewart. But she's also pretty big into Queer Ecology, whether she's in her manifested or mundane form. The SOIL Sisters embrace all ways to serve their community, and they cast that idea of community as something a bit bigger than merely human. The best way to get to true equity and inclusion is to accept that we live on a queer planet, y'all, and that advocacy for human diversity and biodiversity are the same mission. It's a good thing!