Join The Pollen Nation!
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University of California
Join The Pollen Nation!

Moths

MOTHS

  • There are more than 11,000 species of moths in the U.S. alone, that's more than all the bird and mammal species in North America combined.
  • Moths outnumber butterflies, their nearest relative, by more than 10 to 1.
  • Moths can range in size from smaller than a pencil tip to bigger than a songbird. The Atlas Moth, of Southeast Asia, considered the largest in the world, has a wingspan of nearly a foot.
  • Some moths are notorious for their ability to look like other animals to avoid being eaten. There are moths that mimic wasps, tarantulas, the praying mantis and even bird poop! No one wants to eat that!
  • While some moths are major agricultural pests, many others are important pollinators due to their hairy bodies.
  • Many moths are nocturnal, but there are also many that pollinate flowers by day, such as Hummingbird Moths.
  • Many full-grown moths don't eat at all! The adult Luna moth, for instance, doesn't even have a mouth. After it emerges from its cocoon, it lives for about a week to mate and lay eggs.
  • Though they lack noses, moths are expert smellers. They detect odor molecules using their antennae instead of through nostrils.
  • Moths are an important food source for many animals, including humans!
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Sources Cited:

USDA Forest Service:  Moth Pollination

LiveScience.com

 

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