Why Moths?
Why Moths Matter Part 2
18/01/2024
The second part of my moths are important to us all.
Moths such as the stunning Burnished Brass are the key pollinators of many of our wild orchids, such as the Butterfly Orchid. The flowers have co-evolved with moths, giving of their greatest fragrance at night. The moths long proboscis is required to access the nectar, whilst to sepals required for pollination are perfectly located to attach to the head of the moth.
3. Working the Night Shift -
Just as butterflies and bees are important pollinators of plants by day, as night falls the moths take over. While it has been known that moths act as pollinators for sometime, their role it appears has been massively underestimated. Recent studies have shown the pollen networks of moths to be more complex and extensive than their daytime equivalents.
The beautiful Butterfly Orchid is known to be pollinated by the long proboscis of Hawk-moths, and species such as Fragrant Orchid become more fragrant in the evening, perhaps to attract night time visitors. It is not just wildflowers that moths visit, as pollen of agricultural crops such as peas, soya beans and oil-seed rape have been found on moths. The internationally important fruit crop Papaya is entirely pollinated by hawk-moths.
4. Economic Value -
Beyond their important role as pollinators for many crops, our moths have further financial importance. Our moths have developed chemicals as defences against predators, as well as to attract a mate and methods of overcoming plant defences to attack by caterpillars. These abilities have high economic potential if they can be understood and utilised for sustainable agricultural. Eco-tourism continues to grow in importance and our moths have their part to play.
Since its rediscovery in the birch woods of County Kerry the stunning White Prominent attracts visiting moth-ers from far and wide adding significantly to the local economy.
5. Importance to Science -
The study of moths over decades as provided important evidence of the human impacts on the environment, not least on our climate. There amazing life cycles and their accessibility, especially coming into our gardens, have made them a great introduction to generation after generation to the natural world.
Moths have played a key role in biological research, including the fields of genetic, embryology, evolution, population dynamics, navigation and pest control. In recent years the Novavax Covid19 vaccine was developed using the cells of a North American moth species to grow spike proteins, helping to save many lives.
The larvae of the Wax Moth, a species which is a pest to bee keepers and has been recorded in Ireland, has helped in the understanding of immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are used in toxicity trials. Amazingly the Wax Moth may have more to offer, not least the ability of the larvae to consume and apparently bio-degrade polyethylene plastics, such as those in plastic bags. Through understanding how this happens eventually this could help us get out of the plastic mess we have created.
Just as butterflies and bees are important pollinators of plants by day, as night falls the moths take over. While it has been known that moths act as pollinators for sometime, their role it appears has been massively underestimated. Recent studies have shown the pollen networks of moths to be more complex and extensive than their daytime equivalents.
The beautiful Butterfly Orchid is known to be pollinated by the long proboscis of Hawk-moths, and species such as Fragrant Orchid become more fragrant in the evening, perhaps to attract night time visitors. It is not just wildflowers that moths visit, as pollen of agricultural crops such as peas, soya beans and oil-seed rape have been found on moths. The internationally important fruit crop Papaya is entirely pollinated by hawk-moths.
4. Economic Value -
Beyond their important role as pollinators for many crops, our moths have further financial importance. Our moths have developed chemicals as defences against predators, as well as to attract a mate and methods of overcoming plant defences to attack by caterpillars. These abilities have high economic potential if they can be understood and utilised for sustainable agricultural. Eco-tourism continues to grow in importance and our moths have their part to play.
Since its rediscovery in the birch woods of County Kerry the stunning White Prominent attracts visiting moth-ers from far and wide adding significantly to the local economy.
5. Importance to Science -
The study of moths over decades as provided important evidence of the human impacts on the environment, not least on our climate. There amazing life cycles and their accessibility, especially coming into our gardens, have made them a great introduction to generation after generation to the natural world.
Moths have played a key role in biological research, including the fields of genetic, embryology, evolution, population dynamics, navigation and pest control. In recent years the Novavax Covid19 vaccine was developed using the cells of a North American moth species to grow spike proteins, helping to save many lives.
The larvae of the Wax Moth, a species which is a pest to bee keepers and has been recorded in Ireland, has helped in the understanding of immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are used in toxicity trials. Amazingly the Wax Moth may have more to offer, not least the ability of the larvae to consume and apparently bio-degrade polyethylene plastics, such as those in plastic bags. Through understanding how this happens eventually this could help us get out of the plastic mess we have created.
During the British Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century observations of the Peppered Moth (above) lead to an amazing discovery. In the dirty, soot covered, urban and industrial area the charcoal coloured variety of this moth became more common than the typical pale variety shown here. This in an example of an evolutionary directional colour change, where the dark moths had a survival advantage and over generations became the dominent form in certain areas. The genetic mutation responsible for the dark form may only have occured in the first decades of the 19th century, but by 1895 it was reported that in Manchester 98% were the dark variety. In the late 20th century with the introduction of cleaner air, changes in technology and the decline of heavy industry, the dark form had become scarce once again. The moths place in evolutionary biology was secured.