Moth
66633
225003086
2008-07-11T12:12:41Z
RyanLupin
931155
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/121.216.219.172|121.216.219.172]] to last version by 212.104.143.46 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Moths
| image = Emperor Gum Moth.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = Emperor Gum Moth, ''[[Opodiphthera eucalypti]]''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| ordo = [[Lepidoptera]]
}}
A '''moth''' is an [[insect]] closely related to the [[butterfly]]. Both are of the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Lepidoptera]]. The [[differences between butterflies and moths]] are more than just [[taxonomy]]. Sometimes the names "[[Rhopalocera]]" (butterflies) and "[[Heterocera]]" (moths) are used to formalize the popular distinction. Many attempts have been made to subdivide the Lepidoptera into groups such as the Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera, Frenatae and Jugatae, or Monotrysia and Ditrysia. Failure of these names to persist in modern classifications is due to the fact none of them represents a pair of "[[monophyletic group]]s". The reality is that butterflies are a small group that arose from within the "moths"{{Fact|date=December 2007}} and there is thus no way to group all of the remaining taxa in a monophyletic group, as it will always exclude that one descendant lineage.
Most species of moth are [[nocturnal]], but there are [[crepuscular]] and [[Diurnal animal|diurnal]] species. They can be distinguished from butterflies in [[Differences between butterflies and moths|several ways]].
==Etymology==
The [[Modern English]] word "''moth''" comes from [[Old English]] "''moððe''" (cf. Northumbrian "''mohðe''") from Common Germanic (compare [[Old Norse]] "''motti''", [[Dutch language|Dutch]] "''Mot''" and [[German language|German]] "''Motte''" all meaning "''moth''"). Perhaps its origins are related to Old English "''maða''" meaning "''[[maggot]]''" or from the root of "''[[midge]]''" which until the 16th century was used mostly to indicate the larva, usually in reference to devouring clothes.
The study of butterflies and moths is known as [[lepidoptery]], and [[biologist]]s that specialize in either are called lepidopterists. As a pastime, watching butterflies and moths is known as [[Butterfly watching|butterflying]] and [[mothing]]. The latter has given rise to the term "mother" for someone who engages in this activity — sometimes written with a hyphen (moth-er) to distinguish it from its [[mother|usual meaning]]. This confusion does not arise in speech as it is pronounced differently ({{IPAEng|ˈmɒθɚ}}, not {{IPA|/ˈmʌðɚ/}}).
==Economic significance of moths==
[[Image:Poplar hawk-moth.jpg|thumb|right|220px| [[Laothoe populi|Poplar hawk-moth caterpillar</br>''Laothoe populi'']]]]
Moths, and particularly their [[caterpillar]]s, are a major [[agriculture|agricultural]] pest in many parts of the world. The caterpillar of the [[gypsy moth]] (''Lymantria dispar'') causes severe damage to forests in the northeast United States, where it is an [[invasive species]]. In temperate climates, the [[codling moth]] causes extensive damage, especially to fruit farms. In tropical and subtropical climates, the [[cabbage worm|diamondback moth]] (''Plutella xylostella'') is perhaps the most serious pest of [[Brassicaceae|brassicaceous]] crops.
Several moths in the family [[Tineidae]] are commonly regarded as pests because their larvae eat [[Cloth|fabric]] such as [[clothes]] and [[blanket]]s made from natural [[proteinaceous]] fibers such as [[wool]] or [[silk]]. They are less likely to eat mixed materials containing artificial fibers. There are some reports that they can be repelled by the scent of wood from [[juniper]] and [[cedar]], by lavender, or by other natural oils. However, many consider this unlikely to prevent infestation. [[Naphthalene]] (the chemical used in [[mothball]]s) is considered more effective, but there are concerns over its effects on human health. Moth larvae may be killed by freezing the items which they infest for several days at a temperature below −8 °C (18 °F). [http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7435.html]
Moths are sturdy and usually are more resistant to pesticides than are mosquitoes and flies.
Some moths are [[farm]]ed. The most notable of these is the [[silkworm]], the larva of the domesticated moth ''Bombyx mori''. It is farmed for the silk with which it builds its [[Pupa#Cocoon|cocoon]]. The silk industry produces over 130 million kilograms of raw silk, worth about 250 million [[United States dollar|U.S. dollars]], each year. <!--http://www.indiansilk.kar.nic.in/csb/Statistics/forexchg_tasar/forexchg_tasar_Local/SilkFlash/RawSilkPrice_tnap.asp
gives silk prices in rupees. Exchange rate is about 50 RS to dollar. http://www.vegansociety.com/html/animals/exploitation/silk_worm.php gives productions as 134 mkg -->
Not all silk is produced by ''Bombyx mori''. There are several species of [[Saturniidae]] that are also farmed for their silk, such as the Ailanthus moth (''[[Samia cynthia]]'' group of species), the Chinese Oak Silkmoth (''[[Antheraea pernyi]]''), the Assam Silkmoth (''[[Antheraea assamensis]]''), and the Japanese Silk Moth (''[[Antheraea yamamai]]'').
The mopane worm, the caterpillar of ''[[Gonimbrasia belina]]'', from the family [[Saturniidae]], is a significant food resource in southern Africa.
Despite being framed for eating clothing, most moth adults do not eat at all. Most like the Luna, Polyphemus, Atlas, Prometheus, Cercropia, and other large moths don't have mouths. When they do eat, moths will drink nectar. Only one species of moth eats wool {{Fact|date=August 2007}}. The adults do not eat but the larvae will eat through wool clothing.
==Attraction to light==
[[Image:Moths attracted by floodlight.jpg|thumb|200px|Time exposure at floodlight showing moth flight paths]]
Moths frequently appear to circle artificial lights. One hypothesis advanced to explain this behavior is that moths use a technique of [[celestial navigation]] called [[transverse orientation]]. By maintaining a constant angular relationship to a bright celestial light, such as the [[Moon]], they can fly in a straight line. Celestial objects are so far away, that even after travelling great distances, the change in angle between the moth and the light source is negligible; further, the moon will always be in the upper part of the visual field or on the horizon. Human light sources have not existed long enough to affect the evolution of moth navigation systems. When a moth encounters a much closer artificial light and uses it for navigation, the angle changes noticeably after only a short distance, in addition to being often below the horizon. The moth instinctively attempts to correct by turning toward the light, causing airborne moths to come plummeting downwards, and - at close range - which results in a spiral flight path that gets closer and closer to the light source. <ref name="npr">[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12903572 Why are Moths Attracted to Flame?] (audio) All Things Considered, [[August 18]] [[2007]].</ref>
{{Refimprove|date=August 2007}}
In 1972, Henry Hsiao, now a professor of [[biomedical engineering]], suggested that the reason for moths circling lights may have to do with a visual distortion called a [[Mach band]] <ref>Henry S. Hsiao, Attraction of moths to light and to infrared radiation. San Francisco Press (1972) ISBN 0-911302-21-2</ref>. He says that they fly towards the darkest part of the sky in pursuit of safety and are thus inclined to circle ambient objects in the Mach band region. This hypothesis is not scientifically accepted and has never been confirmed.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}
Hsaio says that the celestial navigation theory should cause moths to circle lights, not to head directly toward them, as many are seen to do. He conjectures that moths, which are nocturnal creatures, must find a place to hide from predators when daylight comes, but cannot do so in darkness. Their instinct when morning comes is to fly toward the light (presumably up) and then down again, with some probability landing on a surface which matches their camouflage.<ref name="npr"/>
A theory which has been advanced in an attempt to explain the attraction male moths have for candles specifically is based on olfaction. There is evidence that olfaction might be, in some cases, mediated by detection of the infra-red spectra of substances <ref>Wright, R. H., The Sense of Smell. CRC Press, London (1982)</ref>. The spiky infrared spectra of a candle flame happens to contain a number of emission lines which coincide with the vibrational frequencies of the female moth's pheromone <ref>Callahan, P.S., Moth and candle, Applied Optics 12, 3089-3097</ref>. The male moth is thereby powerfully attracted to the flame. Sources, eg. hurricane lamps, with different spike patterns are less powerful attractants.
Night-blooming [[flower]]s usually depend on moths (or [[bat]]s) for [[pollination]], and artificial lighting can draw moths away from the flowers, affecting the [[plant]]'s ability to reproduce. A way to prevent this is to put a cloth or netting around the lamp. Another way is using a colored light bulb (preferably red). This will take the moth's attention away from the light while still providing light to see by.
==Predators of moths==
Nocturnal insectivores often feed on moths; these include some [[bats]], some species of [[owls]], but also other species of [[birds]]. Moths are also eaten by some species of [[lizards]], some [[cats]], some [[rodents]], and some [[bears]]. Moth larvae are vulnerable to being parasitized by [[ichneumonidae]].
==Notable moths==
*[[Attacus atlas|Atlas moth]] (''Attacus atlas''), the largest moth in the world
*[[White Witch (moth)|White Witch moth]] (''Thysania agrippina''), the Lepidopteran with the biggest wingspan
*[[Chrysiridia rhipheus|Madagascan Sunset moth]] (''Chrysiridia rhipheus''), considered to be one of the most impressive and beautiful Lepidoptera<ref name =Tait>{{cite book |last=Tait |first=Malcolm |title=Animal Tragic: Popular Misconceptions of Wildlife Through the Centuries |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=o8jDkO2fMTgC&pg=PA38&dq=sunset+moth&sig=0cilixqygrcbn_6e49-x5BH9uls#PPA5,M1 |accessdate=2008-02-19 |date=2006-08-28 |publisher=Think Books |location= |language= |isbn=184525015X |pages=38 |chapter=1 |chapterurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=o8jDkO2fMTgC&pg=PA38&dq=sunset+moth&sig=0cilixqygrcbn_6e49-x5BH9uls#PPA5,M1}}</ref>
*[[Death's-head hawkmoth]] (''Acherontia'' spp.), is associations with the supernatural and evil and was featured in art and movies
*[[Peppered moth]] (''Biston betularia''), the subject of a now well-known study in evolution
*[[Actias luna|Luna moth]] (''Actias luna'')
*[[Opodiphthera eucalypti|Emperor Gum moth]] (''Opodiphthera eucalypti'')
*[[Antheraea polyphemus|Polyphemus moth]] (''Antheraea polyphemus'')
*[[Bogong moth]] (''Agrotis infusa''), south eastern Indigenous Australians were known to have feasted on the moths.
Moths of economic significance:
*[[Gypsy moth]] (''Lymantria dispar''), a pest of hardwood trees in North America
*[[Helicoverpa zea|Corn earworm]] or cotton bollworm (''Helicoverpa zea''), a major agricultural pest
*[[Codling moth]] (''Cydia pomonella''), a pest mostly of [[apple]], [[pear]] and [[walnut]] trees
*[[Light brown apple moth]] (''Epiphyas postvittana''), a highly [[polyphagous]] pest
*[[Silkworm]] (''Bombyx mori''), for its [[silk]]
==See also==
*[[Pollination]]
*[[Difference between a butterfly and a moth]]
*[[List of moths]]
*[[Lepidoptera]]
*[[Butterfly]]
*[[Clothing Moth]]
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Lepidoptere(s).jpg|Forester Moth</br> ''[[Zygaenidae]]''
Image:Moth.jpg|A moth
Image:Case moth.jpg|Case Moth</br> ''[[Psychidae]]''
Image:Case moth02.jpg|Case Moth</br> ''[[Psychidae]]''
Image:Looper moth.jpg|Wood Boring Moth</br> ''Cossidae''
Image:GiantLeopardMoth.jpg|[[Giant Leopard Moth]] ''[[Arctiidae]]''
Image:Rosy Maple Moth.png|''[[Dryocampa rubicunda]]'' Rosy Maple Moth
Image:Grammia_parthenice.jpg|''Grammia parthenice'' Tiger Moth
Image:Nyctemera.amica.jpg|''Nyctemera amica'' ''[[Arctiidae]]''
Image:Chelepteryx.collesi.02.jpg|''Chelepteryx collesi'' ''Anthelidae''
Image:Chrysiridia rhipheus 2.jpg|''[[Chrysiridia rhipheus]]''
Image:Bigmoth.jpg|''Lyssa zampa'' ''[[Uraniidae]]'' Grey Sunset Moth
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Oldwife_underwing_spread.jpg|[[Oldwife Underwing]] ''[[Catocala]] neogama'' -->
Image:Oldwife_Underwing_Unspread.jpg| [[Oldwife Underwing]] ''[[Catocala]] neogama''
Image:Hemaris thysbe.jpg|''[[Hemaris thysbe]]'' Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Female Luna moth 1.jpg|Female Luna moth. -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Io moth.jpg|Female Io moth. -->
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: Image:Polyphemus moth 1.jpg|Male Polyphemus moth. -->
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: Image:Tobacco Hornworm moth 1.jpg|Tobacco hornworm moth. -->
</gallery>
==External links==
{{commons|Lepidoptera}}
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/moths.htm Moths of North America] Diagnostic large format photographs, taxonomy, descriptions
*[http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/MainMenu.shtml North American Moth Photographers Group] Diagnostic photographs for thousands of species
*[http://bugguide.net/node/view/82 Bugguide - Moths]
*[http://www.back-garden-moths.co.uk/index.php Back Garden Moths]
* [http://www.pollinator.com/plant_pol/caterpillars/barbarea_verna2.htm Life cycle photos of the salt marsh moth ''Estigmene acrea'']
*[http://www.uklepidoptera.co.uk/ UK Lepidoptera]
*[http://www.leps.nl/ Butterflies and Moths of the Netherlands]
*[http://tools.cotton.crc.org.au/cl2/diapause/index.aspx Helicoverpa Diapause Induction and Moth Emergence Tool]
*[http://www.plumemoth.com/ Pterophoridae of North America]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Moths| ]]
[[Category:Lepidoptera]]
[[Category:Pollinators]]
[[Category:Pest insects]]
[[ar:عثة]]
[[ay:Pharayli]]
[[id:Ngengat]]
[[ms:Kupu-kupu]]
[[da:Møl]]
[[de:Nachtfalter]]
[[es:Mariposa nocturna]]
[[eo:Tineo]]
[[fr:Hétérocères]]
[[gl:Avelaíña]]
[[ko:나방]]
[[it:Falena]]
[[he:עשים]]
[[ja:ガ]]
[[no:Møll]]
[[nn:Nattsvermar]]
[[pl:Ćmy]]
[[pt:Traça]]
[[ru:Моли]]
[[simple:Moth]]
[[sl:Nočni metulji]]
[[fi:Yöperhoset]]
[[sv:Nattfjärilar]]
[[tl:Gamugamo]]
[[tr:Güve]]
[[zh:蛾]]