Alexa Rojas' "Unseen World of Ultraviolet Insects" - Image of Research 2026

At 9:00 pm, we step into another world. We step out of the familiar landscape of corn and soybean fields in Illinois and into the strange world of a forest after dark. This world is home to millions of organisms, where some are sleeping, but others are just waking up. To answer our question, "how do caterpillars fare in forests surrounded by agriculture and pesticides?" we must answer the question, "how do we find them?" Immensely adept at camouflage and staying hidden, caterpillars are a group of insects that are notoriously difficult to find. However, one tool can level the playing field, and that's the ultraviolet flashlight. Caterpillars are mostly nocturnal, but many fluoresce under UV radiation, so I used UV flashlights to get closer to an animal that is often overlooked. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to explore an alien world, I would argue that it's an experience far more accessible than most would think. Grab a UV flashlight and UV-protective glasses, and you can uncover a whole world of glowing creatures and plants that would otherwise be unseen.