From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Moth
Moth
Moths Moths are not easily differentiated from butterflies.
Sometimes the name "Heterocera" is used for moths
while the term "Rhopalocera" is used for butterflies to
formalize the popular distinction; these, however, have
no taxonomic validity. Many attempts have been made
to subdivide the Lepidoptera into groups such as the Mi-
crolepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera, Frenatae and Ju-
gatae, or Monotrysia and Ditrysia. Failure of these names
to persist in modern classifications is because none of
them represents a pair of "monophyletic groups". The re-
ality is that butterflies are a small group that arose from
Emperor Gum Moth, Opodiphthera eucalypti within the "moths" (being considered as part of Ditrysia
of the Neolepidoptera).[2] There is thus no way to group
Scientific classification
all of the remaining taxa in a monophyletic group, as it
Kingdom: Animalia will always exclude that one descendant lineage. Also,
Phylum: Arthropoda both their larvae are similar to coleoptera larvae (beetle).
Class: Insecta
Etymology
Order: Lepidoptera
(unranked): Heterocera
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both
being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority
of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000
different species of moth (about ten times the number
of species of butterfly), with thousands of species yet to
be described.[1] Most species of moth are nocturnal, but
there are crepuscular and diurnal species.
Differences between butterflies
and moths
Mating pair of Laothoe populi, or Poplar Hawk-moths, showing
two different color variants
The Modern English word "moth" comes from Old English
Leaf shaped moth "moððe" (cf. Northumbrian "mohðe") from Common Ger-
manic (compare Old Norse "motti", Dutch "Mot" and Ger-
Main article: Differences between butterflies and moths man "Motte" all meaning "moth"). Perhaps its origins are
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Moth
related to the Old English "maða" meaning "maggot" or
from the root of "midge" which until the 16th century was
Economic significance of moths
used mostly to indicate the larva, usually in reference to
devouring clothes.
The study of butterflies and moths is known as lepi-
doptery, and biologists that specialize in either are called
lepidopterists. As a pastime, watching butterflies and
moths is known as butterflying and mothing. The latter
has given rise to the term "mother" for someone who en-
gages in this activity - sometimes written with a hyphen
(moth-er) to distinguish it from the more common word
of the same spelling.[citation needed] This confusion does not
arise in speech as it is pronounced differently (/ˈmɒθər/,
not /ˈmʌðər/).
Caterpillar An adult male Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pity-
ocampa). This species is a serious forest pest when in 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.
A Caterpillar of Deaths-head Hawk-moth
Poplar hawk-moth caterpillar
Laothoe populi
Moths, and particularly their caterpillars, are a major
agricultural pest in many parts of the world. Examples
include corn borers and bollworms.[4] The caterpillar of
the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) causes severe damage
to forests in the northeast 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
A Caterpillar of Deaths-head Hawk-moth
(Plutella xylostella) is perhaps the most serious pest of
brassicaceous crops.
Moth larvae, or caterpillars, make cocoons. When it
Several moths in the family Tineidae are commonly
comes out of the cocoon, it is a fully grown moth with
regarded as pests because their larvae eat fabric such as
wings. Some moth caterpillars dig holes in the ground,
clothes and blankets made from natural proteinaceous
and they will live in the hole until they are ready to turn
fibers such as wool or silk.[5] They are less likely to eat
into a fully grown moth.[3]
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
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Moth
natural oils. However, many consider this unlikely to for navigation, the angle changes noticeably after only a
prevent infestation. Naphthalene (the chemical used in short distance, in addition to being often below the hori-
mothballs) is considered more effective, but there are zon. The moth instinctively attempts to correct by turn-
concerns over its effects on human health. Moth larvae ing toward the light, causing airborne moths to come
may be killed by freezing the items which they infest for plummeting downwards, and resulting in a spiral flight
several days at a temperature below −8 °C (18 °F).[6] path that gets closer and closer to the light source.
Predators and parasites of
moths
Protective silk (or similar material) case (cocoon)
Some moths are farmed. The most notable of these is
the silkworm, the larva of the domesticated moth Bom-
byx mori. It is farmed for the silk with which it builds its
Tomato Hornworm parasitized by braconid wasps.
cocoon. As of 2002, the silk industry produces over 130
million kilograms of raw silk, worth about 250 million
Nocturnal insectivores often feed on moths; these in-
U.S. dollars, each year.[7][8][9] Not all silk is produced by
clude some bats, some species of owls and other species
Bombyx mori. There are several species of Saturniidae that
of birds. Moths are also eaten by some species of lizards,
are also farmed for their silk, such as the Ailanthus moth
cats, dogs, rodents, and some bears. Moth larvae are vul-
(Samia cynthia group of species), the Chinese Oak Silk-
nerable to being parasitized by Ichneumonidae.
moth (Antheraea pernyi), the Assam Silkmoth (Antheraea
assamensis), and the Japanese Silk Moth (Antheraea yama-
mai).
The mopane worm, the caterpillar of Gonimbrasia be-
lina, from the family Saturniidae, is a significant food re-
source in southern Africa.
Despite being notorious for eating clothing, most
moth adults do not eat at all. Most like the Luna, Polyphe-
mus, Atlas, Prometheus, Cercropia, and other large
moths do not have mouths. When they do eat, moths will
drink nectar.[5]
Attraction to light
Moths frequently appear to circle artificial lights, al-
though the reason for this behavior remains unknown.
One hypothesis advanced to explain this behavior is that Six-Spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae) extracting nectar
moths use a technique of celestial navigation called from a thistle (and thus pollinating it) on the island of Hiiu-
transverse orientation. By maintaining a constant angu- maa, Estonia.
lar relationship to a bright celestial light, such as the
Moon, they can fly in a straight line. Celestial objects are Baculoviruses are parasite double-stranded DNA in-
so far away, that even after travelling great distances, the sect viruses that are used mostly as biological control
change in angle between the moth and the light source agents. They are members of the Baculoviridae, a family
is negligible; further, the moon will always be in the up- that is restricted to insects. Most baculovirus isolates
per part of the visual field or on the horizon. When a have been obtained from insects, in particular from Lepi-
moth encounters a much closer artificial light and uses it doptera.
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Moth
There is evidence that ultrasound in the range emit-
ted by bats causes flying moths to make evasive maneu-
See also
vers because bats eat moths. Ultrasonic frequencies trig- • Baculovirus
ger a reflex action in the noctuid moth that cause it to • Butterfly
drop a few inches in its flight to evade attack.[10] Tiger • Clothing Moth
moths also emit clicks which foil bats’ echoloca- • Difference between a butterfly and a moth
tion.[11][12] • Lepidoptera
• List of moths
• Moth dermatitis
Mottephobia • Pollination
Mottephobia is the fear of moths. The origin of the word
motte is German (meaning moth) and phobia is Greek
(meaning fear). As with all things considered phobias this
References
is an irrational fear or hatred, in this particular case it is [1] – The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation
of moths. and Natural Resources
[2] ""Neolepidoptera" on Tree of Life Web
Project". 1 January 2003.
Notable moths http://tolweb.org/Neolepidoptera/11719.
• Atlas moth Attacus atlas – The largest moth in the Retrieved 31 March 2010.
world [3] Darby, Gene (1958). What is a Butterfly. Chicago:
• White Witch moth (Thysania agrippina), the Benefic Press. p. 41.
Lepidopteran with the biggest wingspan [4] The First Decade of Genetically Engineered Crops
• Madagascan Sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus), in the United States. USDA.
considered to be one of the most impressive and [5] ^ Scott, Thomas (1995). Concise Encyclopedia Biology.
beautiful Lepidoptera[13] Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-010661-2. Retrieved
• Death’s-head hawkmoth (Acherontia spp.), is on 2009-02-06.
associated with the supernatural and evil and has [6] How to Manage Pests: Pests of Homes, Structures,
been featured in art and movies People, and Pets
• Peppered moth (Biston betularia), the subject of a [7] "Table 74. Raw silk: production (including waste)".
well-known study in natural selection. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
• Luna moth (Actias luna) Nations. http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/AD452E/
• Grease Moth (Aglossa cuprina), known to have fed on ad452e2a.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-02. "Table lists
the rendered fat of humans[14] worldwide raw silk production 132,400 metric
• Emperor Gum moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) tonnes in 2002"
• Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) [8] "Silk Exchanges of Tamil Nadu and Andhra
• Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa), known to have been a Pradesh". Central Silk Board of India. Archived
food source for Southeastern indigenous Australians from the original on March 7, 2003.
Moths of economic significance: http://web.archive.org/web/20070307195458/
• Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), a pest of hardwood http://www.indiansilk.kar.nic.in/csb/Statistics/
trees in North America forexchg_tasar/forexchg_tasar_Local/SilkFlash/
• Corn earworm or cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea), a RawSilkPrice_tnap.asp. gives silk prices in rupees.
major agricultural pest Exchange rate is about 50 RS to dollar.
• Indianmeal Moth (Plodia interpunctella), a major pest [9] "Silk Worm Farming". Vegan Society. Archived
of grain and flour from the original on June 19, 2008.
• Codling moth (Cydia pomonella), a pest mostly of http://web.archive.org/web/20080619042940/
apple, pear and walnut trees http://www.vegansociety.com/html/animals/
• Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), a exploitation/silk_worm.php. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
highly polyphagous pest "World Raw Silk Production in 1996 is listed as
• Silkworm (Bombyx mori), for its silk 83,670 metric tonnes"
• Wax moths (Galleria mellonella, Achroia grisella), pests [10] Jones, G; D A Waters (2000). "Moth hearing in
of bee hives response to bat echolocation calls manipulated
• Duponchelia fovealis, a new invasive pest of vegetable independently in time and frequency.". Proceedings
in the United States of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 267 (1453):
1627. doi:10.1098/rspb.2000.1188. PMC 1690724.
PMID 11467425.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Moth
articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1690724.
Retrieved 18 August 2009.
External links
[11] NationalGeographic.com • European Butterflies and Moths by Christopher
[12] NPR.org, Some Moths Escape Bats By Jamming Jonko
Sonar (video) • Museum Witt The World`s Leading Collection of
[13] Tait, Malcolm (2006-08-28). "1". Animal Tragic: Moths (English)
Popular Misconceptions of Wildlife Through the • Moths of North America Diagnostic large format
Centuries. Think Books. p. 38. ISBN 184525015X. photographs, taxonomy, descriptions
http://books.google.com/ • Butterflies and Moths at Lepidoptera.pro: Thousands
of species and photos
books?id=o8jDkO2fMTgC&pg=PA38&dq=sunset+moth&sig=0cilixqygrcbn_6e49-x5BH9uls#PPA5,M1.
Retrieved 2008-02-19. • North American Moth Photographers Group
[14] ^ Brundage, Adrienne (March 23, 2009), Other Diagnostic photographs for thousands of species
Arthropods of Forensic Importance, Texas A&M • Bugguide - Moths
University, Texas A&M University Forensic • Back Garden Moths
Entomology Lecture • UK Lepidoptera
• Helicoverpa Diapause Induction and Moth
Emergence Tool
• Pterophoridae of North America
• Moths on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Website
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moth&oldid=468217821"
Categories:
• Moths
• Lepidoptera
• Pollinators
• Agricultural pest insects
• Household pest insects
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