Diverse in colour, shape and size, moths are incredibly misunderstood insects that often get a bad rap. Unlike the much-loved butterfly — fellow members of Lepidoptera, an order of insects including moths and butterflies — who drift from flower to flower during the day, moths are nocturnal and spend most of their time being active at night. But did you know that, like the butterfly, moths also occupy their time by visiting flowers? As one of Canada’s most important insects, moths play a big role in the country’s biodiversity and are key indicators of a healthy environment. Not only are moths important sources of food for many bats, mammals and bird species, they are also key pollinators that help contribute to the prosperity of plants and flowers within our ecosystems. Needless to say, we need moths. Read on to explore why these misjudged insects need our attention and learn some cool facts you may not have known about these nighttime dwellers.

Some moths don’t eat

In their adult state, there are some species of moths that don’t eat. In fact, some moths, like the luna moth (Actias luna), don’t even have a mouth! Also known as “giant silkworm moths,” the sole purpose of the luna moth is to mate. They don’t have a digestive tract and only live for about a week. Moths that do eat will get most of their nutrients through the nectar of flowers, juices from fruit or sap from trees.

Moths are great impressionists

Many species of moths have evolved to mimic and imitate the appearance of other animals to deter predators. One of the most popular examples of this is the owl moth (Brahmaea wallichii) which has stunning wings that impersonate the face of an owl. With two “eyes” on either wing, the owl moth scares off predators by using its appearance to mimic that of a great horned owl. Other examples include the hornet moth (Sesia apiformis), which looks like a hornet and the wood nymph (Eudryas grata), which has evolved to look like bird faeces.