A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. Both are of the order Lepidoptera.
People who study butterflies and/or moths are called lepidopterists; the study of butterflies is known as butterflying, and the study of moths mothing , the latter giving rise to the term mother for someone who takes part in this activity - sometimes written with a hyphen inserted: moth-er - to distinguish it from the word for a female parent (in spoken English, confusion does not arise as the two are pronounced differently).
Most species of moths are nocturnal, but there are crepuscular and day-flying species. They can be distinguished from butterflies in several ways.
Some moths are leaf miners.
Attraction to light
Moths are apparently attracted to light, or more specifically, are known to circle bright objects. The reason for this behaviour is not known. It may be moths navigate by maitaining a constant angular relationship to a bright celestial light (such as the moon), but on encountering a bright artifical light it navigates maintaining a constant angle to the light resulting in the moth flying in a spiral until it hits the light source.
However, researchers such as Henry Hsiao suggest the reason for moths circling lights has to do with a visual distortion called a Mach band. Henry Hsiao conjectures that moths, as nocturnal creatures, fly towards the darkest part of the sky in pursuit of safety. Moths are thus inclined to circle ambient objects in the Mach band region, usually at a radius of about one foot, depending on the species.
Night blooming flowers usually depend on moths (or bats) for pollination, and artificial lighting can draw moths away from the flowers, impacting the plant's ability to reproduce. Light pollution is coming under increasing scrutiny as a source of many subtle ecological changes.
Moths as pests
Moths are commonly regarded as pests because the larvae of a few species eat fabric such as clothes and blankets made from natural fibres such as wool. They are less likely to eat mixed materials containing artificial fibres.
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. 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 health. Freezing items infested with moth larvae will not kill them.
Moths are sturdy and usually require a bigger force to kill them than mosquitos or flies.
Others may have caterpillars which are agricultural pests, such as the Codling Moth .
Moth species
Lepidopteran on a flower.
Moth species include:
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