Community Corner
Arlington Celebrate The Pollination Night Shift During National Moth Week, July 18-26, 2020
Moths are among the most diverse and successful organisms on earth.
July 22, 2020
Moths are important pollinators in North Texas. Many night blooming plants rely on moths and other nighttime visitors to spread their pollen. Moths are among the most diverse and successful organisms on earth. Its estimated that there are 150,000 to more than 500,000 species! Shapes and sizes span from the size of a pinhead to as large as your hand and their colors and patterns vary from bright and vibrant to muted for camouflaged.
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Finding moths can be as simple as leaving a porch light on and checking it after dark.
Images of some Texas moths can be found at https://www.butterflyidentification.org/moths-by-state-listing.php?reach=Texas.
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Plants benefit from attracting a particular type of pollinator to its flower. This ensures that its pollen will be carried to another flower of the same species and hopefully resulting in successful reproduction. Recent studies show that pollen transport by moths has networks that are larger and more complex than networks for daytime pollinators. Moths may be less efficient pollinators than butterflies and bees but may help create more diversity in the ecosystem.
Flowers that are visited by moths are typically white or dull in color and are typically in clusters, open in the late afternoon or at night and provide a landing platform. Moths look for flowers that produce ample nectar such as morning glory, tobacco, yucca and gardenia.
Moths and butterflies are in the same family, Lepidoptera. These species can look alike, but there are a few differences to look for so that you can tell them apart:
- Butterflies usually rest with their wings slightly opened or closed vertically over their body, while moths rest with their wings open or flat.
- Moths tend to be fatter and hairier than butterflies.
- Butterflies have long, thin antennae with clubbed tips while moths have broad, complex and feathery antennas.
- Butterflies generally gather food during the day while moths are seen more at nighttime. You can find more information on Moths and other pollinators at https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation.
This press release was produced by the City of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
