Moth

Moths
Emperor gum moth, Opodiphthera eucalypti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
(unranked):	Heterocera

Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth,^[1] many of which have yet to be described. Most species of moth are nocturnal, but there are also crepuscular and diurnal species.

Differences between butterflies and moths

Basic moth identification features

While the butterflies form a monophyletic group, the moths, comprising the rest of the Lepidoptera, do not. Many attempts have been made to group the superfamilies of the Lepidoptera into natural groups, most of which fail because one of the two groups is not monophyletic: Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera, Heterocera and Rhopalocera, and , Monotrysia and Ditrysia.^[2]

Although the rules for distinguishing moths from butterflies are not well established, one very good guiding principle is that butterflies have thin antennae and (with the exception of the family Hedylidae) have small balls or clubs at the end of their antennae. Moth antennae are usually feathery with no ball on the end. The divisions are named by this principle: "club-antennae" (Rhopalocera) or "varied-antennae" (Heterocera). Lepidoptera differs between butterflies and other organisms due to evolving a special characteristic of having the tube-like proboscis in the Middle Triassic which allowed them to acquire nectar from flowering plants.^[3]

Etymology

The modern English word moth comes from Old English moððe (cf. Northumbrian mohðe) from Common Germanic (compare Old Norse motti, Dutch mot, and German Motte all meaning 'moth'). Its origins are possibly related to the Old English maða meaning 'maggot' or from the root of midge which until the 16th century was used mostly to indicate the larva, usually in reference to devouring clothes.

Caterpillar

Poplar hawk-moth caterpillar (Laothoe populi)

Moth larvae, or caterpillars, make cocoons from which they emerge as fully grown moths with wings. Some moth caterpillars dig holes in the ground, where they live until they are ready to turn into adult moths.^[4]

History

Moths evolved long before butterflies; moth fossils have been found that may be 190 million years old. Both types of Lepidoptera are thought to have co-evolved with flowering plants, mainly because most modern species, both as adults and larvae, feed on flowering plants. One of the earliest known species that is thought to be an ancestor of moths is Archaeolepis mane. Its fossil fragments show scaled wings that are similar to caddisflies in their veining.^[5]

Moth from Kerala, India

Economics

Significance to humans

An adult male pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa). This species is a serious forest pest when in its larval state. Notice the bristle springing from the underside of the hindwing (frenulum) and running forward to be held in a small catch of the forewing, whose function is to link the wings together.

Some moths, particularly their caterpillars, can be major agricultural pests in many parts of the world. Examples include corn borers and bollworms.^[6] The caterpillar of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) causes severe damage to forests in the northeastern United States, where it is an invasive species. In temperate climates, the codling moth causes extensive damage, especially to fruit farms. In tropical and subtropical climates, the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is perhaps the most serious pest of brassicaceous crops. Also in sub-Saharan Africa, the African sugarcane borer is a major pest of sugarcane, maize, and sorghum.^[7]

Several moths in the family Tineidae are commonly regarded as pests because their larvae eat fabric such as clothes and blankets made from natural proteinaceous fibers such as wool or silk.^[8] They are less likely to eat mixed materials containing some artificial fibers. There are some reports that they may be repelled by the scent of wood from juniper and cedar, by lavender, or by other natural oils; however, many consider this unlikely to prevent infestation. Naphthalene (the chemical used in mothballs) is considered more effective, but there are concerns over its effects on human health.

Moth larvae may be killed by freezing the items which they infest for several days at a temperature below −8 °C (18 °F).^[9]

While moths are notorious for eating clothing, most species do not, and some moth adults do not even eat at all. Some, like the Luna, Polyphemus, Atlas, Promethea, cecropia, and other large moths do not have mouth parts. This is possible because they live off the food stores from when they were a caterpillar, and only live a short time as an adult (roughly a week for some species).^[10] Many species of adult moths do however eat: for instance, many will drink nectar.^[8]

Some moths are farmed for their economic value. The most notable of these is the silkworm, the larva of the domesticated moth Bombyx mori. It is farmed for the silk with which it builds its cocoon. As of 2002, the silk industry produces more than 130 million kilograms of raw silk, worth about 250 million U.S. dollars, each year.^[11][12][13]

Not all silk is produced by Bombyx mori. There are several species of Saturniidae that also are farmed for their silk, such as the ailanthus moth (Samia cynthia group of species), the Chinese oak silkmoth (Antheraea pernyi), the Assam silkmoth (Antheraea assamensis), and the Japanese silk moth (Antheraea yamamai).

The larvae of many species are used as food, particularly in Africa, where they are an important source of nutrition. The mopane worm, the caterpillar of Gonimbrasia belina, from the family Saturniidae, is a significant food resource in southern Africa. Another saturniid used as food is the cavorting emperor (Usta terpsichore). In one country alone, Congo, more than 30 species of moth larvae are harvested. Some are sold not only in the local village markets, but are shipped by the ton from one country to another.^[14]

Predators and parasites

Tobacco hornworm parasitized by braconid wasps

Nocturnal insectivores often feed on moths; these include some bats, some species of owls and other species of birds. Moths also are eaten by some species of lizards, amphibians, cats, dogs, rodents, and some bears. Moth larvae are vulnerable to being parasitized by Ichneumonidae.

Baculoviruses are parasite double-stranded DNA insect viruses that are used mostly as biological control agents. They are members of the Baculoviridae, a family that is restricted to insects. Most baculovirus isolates have been obtained from insects, in particular from Lepidoptera.

There is evidence that ultrasound in the range emitted by bats causes flying moths to make evasive maneuvers. Ultrasonic frequencies trigger a reflex action in the noctuid moth that causes it to drop a few centimeters or inches in its flight to evade attack,^[15] and tiger moths can emit clicks to foil bats' echolocation.^[16][17]

The fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis infects the larvae of many different species of moths.^[18]

Ecological importance

Some studies indicate that certain species of moths, such as those belonging to the families Erebidae and Sphingidae, may be the key pollinators for some flowering plants in the Himalayan ecosystem.^[19][20] A UK study published by The Royal Society in 2020 established that moths are important nocturnal pollinators of a wide range of plants.^[21][22]

Attraction to light

Assorted moths in the University of Texas Insect Collection

Moths frequently appear to circle artificial lights, although the reason for this behavior (positive phototaxis) is currently unknown. One hypothesis is called celestial or transverse orientation. By maintaining a constant angular relationship to a bright celestial light, such as the moon, they can fly in a straight line. Celestial objects are so far away that, even after travelling great distances, the change in angle between the moth and the light source is negligible; further, the moon will always be in the upper part of the visual field, or on the horizon. When a moth encounters a much closer artificial light and uses it for navigation, the angle changes noticeably after only a short distance, in addition to being often below the horizon. The moth instinctively attempts to correct by turning toward the light, thereby causing airborne moths to come plummeting downward, and resulting in a spiral flight path that gets closer and closer to the light source.^[23]

Studies have found that light pollution caused by increasing use of artificial lights has either led to a severe decline in moth population in some parts of the world^[24][25][26] or has severely disrupted nocturnal pollination.^[27][28]

Noteworthy moths

• Atlas moth (Attacus atlas), one of the largest moths in the world
• Herculese moth (Coscinocera hercules), largest moth in Australia
• White witch moth (Thysania agrippina), the Lepidopteran with the longest wingspan
• Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus), considered to be one of the most impressive and beautiful Lepidoptera^[29]
• Death's-head hawkmoth (Acherontia spp.), is associated with the supernatural and evil and has been featured in art and movies
• Peppered moth (Biston betularia), the subject of a well-known study in natural selection
• Luna moth (Actias luna)
• Grease moth (Aglossa cuprina), known to have fed on the rendered fat of humans^[30]
• Emperor gum moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti)
• Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
• Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa), known to have been a food source for southeastern indigenous Australians
• Ornate moth (Utetheisa ornatrix), the subject of numerous behavioral studies regarding sexual selection

Moths of economic significance

• Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), an invasive species pest of hardwood trees in North America
• Winter moth (Operophtera brumata), an invasive species pest of hardwood trees, cranberry and blueberry in northeastern North America
• Corn earworm or cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea), a major agricultural pest
• Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella), a major pest of grain and flour
• Codling moth (Cydia pomonella), a pest mostly of apple, pear and walnut trees
• Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), a highly polyphagous pest
• Silkworm (Bombyx mori), for its silk
• Wax moths (Galleria mellonella, Achroia grisella), pests of bee hives
• Duponchelia fovealis, a new invasive pest of vegetables and ornamental plants in the United States

Gallery

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  Diagram of a plume moth from Robert Hooke's Micrographia

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  Leaf-shaped moth (Pergesa acteus)

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  Giant grey moth (Agrius convolvuli)

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  Oleander hawk-moth or army green moth (Daphnis nerii)

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  Six-spot burnet moths mating (Zygaena filipendulae)

• 

  Protective silk (or similar material) case (cocoon)

• 

  A caterpillar of death's-head hawkmoth

• 

  Mating pair of Laothoe populi, or poplar hawkmoths, showing two different color variants

• 

  White-lined sphinx moth in Colorado, United States

• 

  Closeup of a common clothes moth

• 

  Giant silk moth (Adelowalkeria tristygma)

• 

  Adult emperor moth (Gonimbrasia belina)

• 

  A moth on a marble floor in Kolkata, India

See also

• Baculovirus
• Clothing moth
• Comparison of butterflies and moths
• List of moths
• Lepidopterism
• Pollination

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lepidoptera.