Mighty moths: Nature's nocturnal pollinators
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Woah! Something with bold wings just flew by. Is it a moth?
You might think of moths as just dull butterflies, but wait! These tiny (and sometimes not so tiny) flying creatures are quite complex. Let’s take another look at our magnificent friend the moth.
Moth vs. butterfly
One question that always gets asked: Is this a butterfly or a moth? Moths and butterflies are different creatures, but they are related. Both make up the order Lepidoptera. This group contains tens of thousands of different species. But how do you know if you are looking at a moth or a butterfly? There are a few general ways to tell even if you are not familiar with the exact species.
Words to know
Outnumber: To exceed in number.
Trait: A distinguishing characteristic or quality.
One way you can tell the difference between the two is their antennae. Butterfly antennae are thin with a knob at the end, sort of like a drumstick or Q-tip. Moths can either have thin antennae with no knob at the end or feathery-fluffy antennae, depending on the species and gender of the moth.
You could also just rely on math. Moth species outnumber butterfly species 10 to 1. Worldwide, there are about 160,000 species of moths. About 11,000 different species live in the United States. That is more than all the different species of birds and mammals combined! Here in Illinois, you can find about 1,850 moth species vs. 150 butterflies. So odds are if you see something that looks like a butterfly, it might be a moth!
Ready for the runway
With so many kinds of moths, they have a lot of different appearances. These different traits are found in super families, or large groups that scientists classify similar moth species in.
With so many different species, there are a lot of super families and families and species. Below are three species we have here in Will County, what they are grouped as and a sample of the different colors and shapes found in these groups.
The polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) belongs to the family Saturniidae, also known as the giant silk moths. These large moths can have a wingspan of about 6 inches, or half a ruler! Do the spots on the hind wings remind you of anything? The colorful and popular luna moth and rosy maple moth also belong to this family.
There are large moths and tiny moths, often referred to as micromoths because most moths in this group have a wingspan of less than 2 centimeters wide. Understandably, these are often overlooked and seen less often. One local example is the maple callus borer (Synanthedon acerni).
The final example is the chickweed geometer (Haematopis grataria). Geometer moths are a group of medium-sized moths that have angled wings, like a triangle or pentagon, that are held open. You might recognize them more as caterpillars. They are what we call “inchworms.”
Nighttime navigators
Like bees and butterflies, most moths are pollinators. They fly looking for food and spreading pollen from flower to flower during the night shift.
That makes nighttime a good time to go mothing! The best part? You don’t need much. Here’s how to study which friends are flying in your backyard:
Set up a white sheet, blanket or tarp. Moths are attracted to white flowers that reflect the moonlight, so the lighter the sheet, the better. You can hang this on a fence, between two posts, etc.
Moths are attracted to light, so add a source of light such as a flashlight or a lantern by your white background.
Wait a little while and then see who lands! Don’t forget to snap a picture so you can try to identify it later.
National Moth Week is held every July. You can celebrate by learning about native species, going mothing or helping our flying friends by releasing them back outside if one wanders into your home.
