Moths
Emperor Gum Moth, Opodiphthera eucalypti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. The emperor gum moth, Opodiphthera eucalypti, is a species of Moth native to Australia, and can be easily found in all the states except for Tasmania Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a Both are of the order Lepidoptera. This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. The differences between butterflies and moths are more than just taxonomy. A common classification of the Lepidoptera involves their differentiation into butterflies and Moths Butterflies are a natural Monophyletic group often Sometimes the names "Rhopalocera" (butterflies) and "Heterocera" (moths) are used to formalize the popular distinction. A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a A common classification of the Lepidoptera involves their differentiation into butterflies and Moths Butterflies are a natural Monophyletic group often Many attempts have been made to subdivide the Lepidoptera into groups such as the Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera, Frenatae and Jugatae, or Monotrysia and Ditrysia. Failure of these names to persist in modern classifications is due to the fact none of them represents a pair of "monophyletic groups". A clade is a taxonomic group comprising a single Common ancestor and all the descendants of that ancestor The reality is that butterflies are a small group that arose from within the "moths" and there is thus no way to group all of the remaining taxa in a monophyletic group, as it will always exclude that one descendant lineage.

Most species of moth are nocturnal, but there are crepuscular and diurnal species. As an Animal behavior, nocturnality describes sleeping during the Daytime and being active at Night - the opposite of the diurnal Crepuscular is a term used to describe animals that are primarily active during Twilight, hence at Dawn and at Dusk. In Animal behavior, diurnality indicates an Animal that is active during the Daytime and rests during the Night. They can be distinguished from butterflies in several ways. A common classification of the Lepidoptera involves their differentiation into butterflies and Moths Butterflies are a natural Monophyletic group often

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Economic significance of moths 3 Attraction to light 4 Predators of moths 5 Notable moths 6 See also 7 Gallery 8 External links 9 References

Etymology

The Modern English word "moth" comes from Old English "moððe" (cf. Modern English is the form of the English language spoken since the Great Vowel Shift, completed in roughly 1550 Northumbrian "mohðe") from Common Germanic (compare Old Norse "motti", Dutch "Mot" and German "Motte" all meaning "moth"). Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Perhaps its origins are related to 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. Maggot is the common name of the Larval phase of development in insects of the order Diptera (flies Midges comprise many kinds of very small two-winged flies The term does not encapsulate a well-defined taxonomic group but includes animals in several families of Nematoceran

The study of butterflies and moths is known as lepidoptery, and biologists that specialize in either are called lepidopterists. A lepidopterist is a person who catches and collects studies or simply observes (see Butterfly watching) lepidopterans, members of an order encompassing A biologist is a Scientist devoted to and producing results in Biology through the study of Organisms Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship As a pastime, watching butterflies and moths is known as butterflying and mothing. Butterfly watching (also called butterflying) is a Hobby concerned with the non-destructive observation and study of butterflies. The latter has given rise to the term "mother" for someone who engages in this activity — sometimes written with a hyphen (moth-er) to distinguish it from its usual meaning. "Mom" "Mum" and "Mommy" redirect here This confusion does not arise in speech as it is pronounced differently (IPA: /ˈmɒθɚ/, not /ˈmʌðɚ/).

Economic significance of moths

Moths, and particularly their caterpillars, are a major agricultural pest in many parts of the world. The Poplar Hawk-moth ( Laothoe populi) is a Moth of the family Sphingidae. Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The caterpillar of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) causes severe damage to forests in the northeast United States, where it is an invasive species. The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is a moth in the family Lymantriidae of Eurasian origin Introduced species|Weed Invasive species is a phrase with several definitions In temperate climates, the codling moth causes extensive damage, especially to fruit farms. The codling moth ( Cydia pomonella) is a member of the Lepidopteran family Tortricidae. In tropical and subtropical climates, the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is perhaps the most serious pest of brassicaceous crops. The term cabbage worm is primarily used for any of four kinds of lepidopteran whose larvae feed on Cabbages and other cole crops. Brassicaceae or Cruciferae, also known as the crucifers, the mustard family or cabbage family is a family (the third lowest primary

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. Tineidae is a family of Moths in the order Lepidoptera. The family contains approximately 3000 species A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather A blanket is a type of Bedding, generally speaking a large piece of cloth intended to keep the user warm especially while Sleeping Blankets are distinguished from Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons They are less likely to eat mixed materials containing artificial fibers. There are some reports that they can be repelled by the scent of wood from juniper and cedar, by lavender, or by other natural oils. Junipers are Coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Cedar ( Cedrus) is a genus of Coniferous Trees in the Plant family Pinaceae. 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. Naphthalene, also known as naphthalin, naphthaline, tar camphor, white tar, albocarbon, or antimite and not to be Mothballs are small balls of chemical Pesticide and Deodorant used when storing clothing and other articles susceptible to damage from Mold or Moth Moth larvae may be killed by freezing the items which they infest for several days at a temperature below −8 °C (18 °F). [1]

Moths are sturdy and usually are more resistant to pesticides than are mosquitoes and flies.

Some moths are farmed. A farm is an area of land including various structures devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food ( Produce, Grains, or Livestock 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. A pupa ( Latin pupa for doll pl pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some Insects undergoing transformation The silk industry produces over 130 million kilograms of raw silk, worth about 250 million U.S. dollars, each year. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Not all silk is produced by Bombyx mori. There are several species of Saturniidae that are also 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 Saturniidae, collectively known as saturniids, are among the largest and mostspectacular of the Lepidoptera, with an estimated 1300 to 1500 different described The ailanthus silkmoth ( Samia cynthia) is a saturniid moth used to produce silk fabric but not as domesticated as the silkworm Bombyx mori Antheraea pernyi, the Chinese (Oak Tussah Moth (or "Chinese Tasar Moth" also known as Temperate Tussah Moth, is a large Moth

The mopane worm, the caterpillar of Gonimbrasia belina, from the family Saturniidae, is a significant food resource in southern Africa. Gonimbrasia belina is a species of Moth found in much of southern Africa whose large edible Caterpillar, the mopani or mopane worm The Saturniidae, collectively known as saturniids, are among the largest and mostspectacular of the Lepidoptera, with an estimated 1300 to 1500 different described

Despite being framed for eating clothing, most moth adults do not eat at all. Most like the Luna, Polyphemus, Atlas, Prometheus, Cercropia, and other large moths don't have mouths. When they do eat, moths will drink nectar. Only one species of moth eats wool. The adults do not eat but the larvae will eat through wool clothing.

Attraction to light

Moths frequently appear to circle artificial lights. One hypothesis advanced to explain this behavior is that moths use a technique of celestial navigation called transverse orientation. Celestial navigation, also known as astronavigation, is a Position fixing technique that was devised to help sailors cross the featureless oceans without having to 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. Human light sources have not existed long enough to affect the evolution of moth navigation systems. 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, causing airborne moths to come plummeting downwards, and - at close range - which results in a spiral flight path that gets closer and closer to the light source. ^[1]

In 1972, Henry Hsiao, now a professor of biomedical engineering, suggested that the reason for moths circling lights may have to do with a visual distortion called a Mach band ^[2]. Biomedical engineering ( BME) is the application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field Mach bands are an Optical illusion consisting of an image of two wide bands one light and one dark separated by a narrow strip with a light-to-dark gradient He says that they fly towards the darkest part of the sky in pursuit of safety and are thus inclined to circle ambient objects in the Mach band region. This hypothesis is not scientifically accepted and has never been confirmed.

Hsaio says that the celestial navigation theory should cause moths to circle lights, not to head directly toward them, as many are seen to do. He conjectures that moths, which are nocturnal creatures, must find a place to hide from predators when daylight comes, but cannot do so in darkness. Their instinct when morning comes is to fly toward the light (presumably up) and then down again, with some probability landing on a surface which matches their camouflage. ^[1]

A theory which has been advanced in an attempt to explain the attraction male moths have for candles specifically is based on olfaction. There is evidence that olfaction might be, in some cases, mediated by detection of the infra-red spectra of substances ^[3]. The spiky infrared spectra of a candle flame happens to contain a number of emission lines which coincide with the vibrational frequencies of the female moth's pheromone ^[4]. The male moth is thereby powerfully attracted to the flame. Sources, eg. hurricane lamps, with different spike patterns are less powerful attractants.

Night-blooming flowers usually depend on moths (or bats) for pollination, and artificial lighting can draw moths away from the flowers, affecting the plant's ability to reproduce. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. A way to prevent this is to put a cloth or netting around the lamp. Another way is using a colored light bulb (preferably red). This will take the moth's attention away from the light while still providing light to see by.

Predators of moths

Nocturnal insectivores often feed on moths; these include some bats, some species of owls, but also other species of birds. The Owls are an order of birds of prey. Most are Solitary, and nocturnal, with some exceptions (e Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Moths are also eaten by some species of lizards, some cats, some rodents, and some bears. Lizards are a large and widespread group of Reptiles of the order Squamata, with nearly 5000 species and ranging across all continents except WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic Rodentia is an order of Mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must Moth larvae are vulnerable to being parasitized by ichneumonidae. Ichneumonidae is a family within the Insect order Hymenoptera.

Notable moths

• Atlas moth (Attacus atlas), the largest moth in the world
• White Witch moth (Thysania agrippina), the Lepidopteran with the biggest wingspan
• Madagascan Sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus), considered to be one of the most impressive and beautiful Lepidoptera^[5]
• Death's-head hawkmoth (Acherontia spp. The Atlas moth ( Attacus atlas) is a large saturniid moth found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, southern China, common The Madagascan sunset moth, or simply sunset moth, ( Chrysiridia rhipheus) is a day-flying Moth of the Uraniidae family The name Death's-head Hawkmoth refers to any one of the three species ( A ), is associations with the supernatural and evil and was featured in art and movies
• Peppered moth (Biston betularia), the subject of a now well-known study in evolution. The peppered moth ( Biston betularia) is a temperate species of night-flying Moth.
• Luna moth (Actias luna)
• Emperor Gum moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti)
• Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
• Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa), south eastern Indigenous Australians were known to have feasted on the moths. The Luna Moth ( Actias luna) is a lime-green, Nearctic Saturniid Moth in the subfamily Saturniinae. The emperor gum moth, Opodiphthera eucalypti, is a species of Moth native to Australia, and can be easily found in all the states except for Tasmania The Polyphemus moth ( Antheraea polyphemus) is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths The Bogong moth ( Agrotis infusa) is a temperate Species of night-flying Moth notable for appearing in large numbers around major public buildings

Moths of economic significance:

• Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), a pest of hardwood trees in North America
• Corn earworm or cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea), a major agricultural pest
• 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

See also

• Pollination
• Difference between a butterfly and a moth
• List of moths
• Lepidoptera
• Butterfly
• Clothing Moth

Gallery

Forester Moth Zygaenidae	A moth	Case Moth Psychidae	Case Moth Psychidae
Wood Boring Moth Cossidae	Giant Leopard Moth Arctiidae	Dryocampa rubicunda Rosy Maple Moth	Grammia parthenice Tiger Moth
Nyctemera amica Arctiidae	Chelepteryx collesi Anthelidae	Chrysiridia rhipheus	Lyssa zampa Uraniidae Grey Sunset Moth
Oldwife Underwing Catocala neogama	Hemaris thysbe Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

External links

• Moths of North America Diagnostic large format photographs, taxonomy, descriptions
• North American Moth Photographers Group Diagnostic photographs for thousands of species
• Bugguide - Moths
• Back Garden Moths
• Life cycle photos of the salt marsh moth Estigmene acrea
• UK Lepidoptera
• Butterflies and Moths of the Netherlands
• Helicoverpa Diapause Induction and Moth Emergence Tool
• Pterophoridae of North America

References

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