Co-evolution is a term to describe what happens when two (or more) species influence one another’s evolutionary pathways. Plants and pollinators represent a classic case of co-evolution. One of the most famous examples of co-evolution of all time involves an orchid, a hawkmoth and none other than Charles Darwin. First, the orchid: Angraecum sesquipedale, the Madagascan star orchid, is a …
I’ve written before about how light pollution can affect moth behavior and foraging and studies have shown that light pollution can affect the way moths escape from predators such as bats. But did you know that odor pollution can adversely affect moths as well? We already know that moths are amazing at chemosensing – some …
I mentioned in my last post on diurnal Sphingidae that several species are mimics of hummingbirds and bumblebees. Today I’ll talk a little more about mimicry. In evolutionary biology, mimicry is the imitation of one species by another species that results in protection from predators to one or both of the species. Stories of mimicry …
One common misconception about moths vs. butterflies is that moths are nocturnal (active at night) and butterflies are diurnal (active during the day). While this is true in the vast majority of cases, there are a few diurnal moths, some of which are members of the Sphingidae. Today, I’ll introduce you to a few day-flying …
We’ve discussed the role of Sphingidae as pollinators and their importance to science as model for MAVs. Today we’ll learn about a specific hawkmoth called Manduca sexta. Manduca sexta, the tobacco hornworm is one of the most recognizable hawkmoths around. The adults are large and have colorfully striped bodies. The caterpillars feed on solanaceous plants …
I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts that Sphingidae are well known for their very fast, very agile flight as well as their ability to hover. Those are great for avoiding predators and zipping from flower to flower to get nectar. It’s also very interesting to us professional and amateur entomologists who love to observe hawkmoths feeding …
Sphingidae (and several other moth taxa) play a critical role in many ecosystems – that of pollinators. Pollination is a mutualism – an ecological relationship where both partners get a benefit. The pollinator gets food in the form of nectar (and sometimes pollen) from the flower, while the plant gets pollinated – that is, it is …
As you’re probably aware if you are following NMW news, we’ve designated 2015 as the year of the Hawkmoth, so over the next few weeks we’ll feature some blog posts on them. There are about 1400 species of Sphingidae, which can be found all over the world. Hawkmoth is one common name for moths in the …
Michael Kurz of NMW partner NKIS had a new moth record for the Federal Territory of Salzburg during this year’s NMW. The moth, Noctua interjecta caliginosa, was also only the third record for Austria. Kurz was not planning on doing any mothing that evening, but decided to do so at the urging of his 12-year-old granddaughter, Viktoria …
Hey all, I was featured on NPR’s The Protojournalist blog for my work with Hemaris. Check out the story here.
Stay up-to-date on all things Moth Week and Mothing.
National Moth Week is a project of the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission (Friends of EBEC), a 501c-3 nonprofit organization.
©️ 2024 National Moth Week. All Rights Reserved.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
We use cookies to improve your browsing experience on our website, to analyze our website traffic, and to understand where our visitors are coming from. By clicking “Accept,” you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. You can manage your cookie preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by accessing the cookie settings in your browser. For more information about how we use cookies, please read our Privacy Policy.