Moth | Facts & Information

Origin

The study of Butterflies is called lepidopterology, and specialists are called lepidopterologists.

The largest moth has a wingspan of over 300 mm, more than 100 times the size of the smallest annular moths, whose wingspan is under 3 mm. Many species of moths have wings of strange shapes.

Food Moth

The insect is regarded as a generalist herbivore. It feeds on hundreds of species of dicotyledonous plants, almost all types of fruit crops , ornamental plants, vegetables, crops in greenhouses, seedlings, etc.in larva form it causes significant damage to leaves and fruits.

It is considered beneficial in a few cases because it kills some invasive plants.

Another unofficial food source is our clothes.

I have not been able to find out if they eat them, because I do not see what could be digested or tasty from a fur coat, or if they simply gnaw them for pleasure or nerves, but the first opportunity when I find out I will update these lines.

One species of moth, Agrotis infusa, is the food source for Indigenous Australians.

Features Moth

It has the body similar to that of the butterfly, that is, elongated. The wings are still two pairs, but shorter. Adult males a length of 6-10mm, and females 7-13mm. They can be found in various shades of colors: light brown, brown, cream, reddish-brown, etc.depending on the species, the brown color being basic.

A common question that has so far been unanswered is: why are moths attracted to light ? If there is a light source in a room and there is a moth in that room, it will certainly be near that light source.

There are several theories regarding this question. Some say that it is the heat of the light bulb, others say that moths use a celestial navigation system maintaining a constant angular course with respect to the light (for example, with respect to the moon). Moths instinctively when turning on light in a room fly in a spiral shape to get as close to the light source as possible.

Nocturnal insectivores often feed on moths, these are some bats, some owls, probably smaller species and some species of birds. As predators moths are most eaten by lizards, cats, dogs, rodents, etc.

If you did not know there is a phobia of moths (mothphobia: moth=moth and phobia=fear). It is obvious that the moth can not disturb even a child, considering first of all its size and secondly the fact that it has no weapon to make the man afraid. Yet there are people who are afraid of these little creatures.

Moths are important for various reasons, such as pollination of plants, a process necessary for seed formation. Lepidoptera are also used for Biological control. A classic example was the introduction to Australia of a small moth called cactoblastis to control the widespread cactus known as the prickly pear.

The Cactus invaded large areas of pastures for sheep destroying them. Cactoblastis caterpillars fed on this cactus causing it to rot. The prickly pear was destroyed and eventually the land became pasture for sheep.

Reproduction Moth

The larger female mates with the male and then lays hundreds of eggs in a safe place. Then the egg, larva, nymph, adult cycle takes its course.

The eggs hatch after about 14 days and pass to the larva stage which develops in phases (they are also called ages).

After the larva stage that lasts less than a month the insect stops eating and looks for place to fix (on stems, branches, vegetation around).

They have an oval shape and during this period do not move or feed. In less than 2 weeks, it turns into an adult.