National Moth Week

24.07.2023 - 12:10 / hgic.clemson.edu

Did you know this week is National Moth Week? July 17 – 25, 2021, marks the tenth anniversary of National moth week. This program started in New Jersey but now has a global reach. The goal this year is to encourage young people, in particular, to observe and document moths. To that end, they have many resources and tips on their webpage at https://nationalmothweek.org/. In 2019, the South Carolina Botanical Garden participated in this worldwide event by hosting a Magical Moth night in partnership with the Clemson Entomology Club. It was so much fun that we hope to do it again next year.

Who cares about moths, you might ask? Moths are often regarded as pests, as drab and uninteresting, and only around at night, but this is only a small fraction of the picture. With scientists estimating between 150 to 500,000 species worldwide, they outnumber butterflies fifteen to one. This means they are a hugely important part of the world’s biodiversity, and, beyond that, we are only just beginning to unlock the secrets of the moth world.

Nocturnal moths feed many bat species, and their caterpillars sustain many, many songbirds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The decline in birds that feed on the wing, for example, swallows and nighthawks, has been linked to a decline in moth species worldwide.

Most research into pollination focuses on daytime pollinators, with an emphasis on bees; little attention has been given to moths. Recent research, however, shows that moths are excellent pollinators since pollen grains readily stick to their furry bodies. Other research into the types of pollen carried by moths reveals moths visited many more plants than previously thought. As scientists further explore the relationship between plants