That’s not to say that there aren’t researchers working to change that! Here’s what we know so far. Unlike honeybees, moths probably aren’t directly important to crop pollination. Biologists interested in pollination tend to focus on those that are out and about during the day, so there’s been a lot more research done on pollinators like honeybees and butterflies than on moths. So how important are moths as pollinators? The things is, we still don’t really know. This unusual-looking insect is still a moth. General weirdness: Since “moths” isn’t a united taxonomic group, there’s some moths that just look plain weird! Plume moths, for example, have narrow wings that don’t really look like what you’d expect from a butterfly or moth.That being said, some moths can be active during the day, and some butterflies are around in the early evening. Time of day: Is it dark out? If it’s after sunset, it’s probably a moth.Wings: Is it holding its wings flat or upright while sitting still? If it’s holding them flat, it’s probably a moth.Antenna: Do its antenna have clubs on the end? If not - if they’re just straight, and especially if they’re feathery - it’s a moth.In fact, butterflies only make up 10% of all ~180,000 known Lepidoptera! Here’s a quick list of things to look for if you’ve got a bug on hand and want to know if it’s a butterfly or moth (though none of these are always going to work): Keep in mind that “moth” isn’t as clear-cut a group as butterflies - “moth” is kind of a catch-all term for any Lepidopteran that’s not a butterfly. Photo from: (20497044485).jpg This Baltimore checkerspot butterfly while the butterfly has clubbed antenna and is holding its wings upright. This rosy maple moth has feathery antennae, and it’s holding its wings flat. That’s when some species of moths take on the role of pollinators. Once the caterpillars are grown, they form cocoons, and eventually metamorphose into their winged adult stage. Moths start out as eggs that hatch into caterpillars and spend all their time eating food - mostly leaves, though some moths love to feast on wool and silk. What exactly are moths? And how can you tell them apart from butterflies? They’re insects in the order Lepidoptera, and like butterflies, they’ve got scaly wings, antenna, and a hankering for flower nectar. More than that, they can be every bit as striking, weird, and wonderful as other pollinators - and you can observe them right in your backyard, if you know what you’re doing. If not, they should be! Though these pollinators are active mostly at dusk and at night, and often get the short shrift when compared to their day-flying butterfly cousins, they also play an important role in pollination. Possibly even showy butterflies like monarchs and swallowtails, or feathered pollinators like hummingbirds, or warm-blooded pollinators like the lesser long-nosed bat. Quick, name a pollinator! What’s the first thing that popped into your mind? Maybe it was a honeybee.
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