Moths: The Misunderstood Insect

Date: 7 December 2021

Author: Dr. Monalisa Paul

Moths (Heterocera meaning varied antennae) belong to Phylum Arthropoda of Class Insecta of Order Lepidoptera (‘Lepi’ scale; ‘ptera’ wings). Organisms of Phylum Arthropoda have jointed appendages, Class Insecta usually having two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs and Order Lepidoptera having scales on their wings with few exceptions. They differ from other insects also by their ability to coil up their feeding tube (the proboscis). With their evolution back to 190 million years on the Earth, they are not only beautiful and important parts of wildlife but also play crucial roles in the food chain as well as in the pollination of plants. They are basically nocturnal pollinators. They are the counterparts of their diurnal friend -butterflies, both belonging to the same order. 

But because of their less vibrant colours as compared to butterflies and dominant nocturnal behaviour, major scientific documentation has been focused on butterflies in comparison to moths worldwide.  They are considered evil in all the folklores globally. They are often misinterpreted and sidelined. They are among the most taxonomically important groups of insects and play vivid functional roles in any ecosystem as selective herbivores, pollinators, detritivores, agricultural pest and food resource for other organisms at higher trophic levels. Being holometabolous (life cycle having eggs, larvae, pupa, and adult) they play a well-defined role in environment at every stage of their life cycle and hence, their study in any ecosystem is highly significant.  With increasing urbanisation and loss of host plants, the threat of their extinctions is growing stronger. Such mis happenings can be controlled by growing terrace/ balcony /kitchen gardens with their selective native host plants. Dimming of artificial lighting when not in use as it causes light pollution, making them vulnerable to the predators. Most importantly education and awareness regarding their importance needs to be highlighted among the people to get equal acceptance and admiration like butterflies.

Edited By: Dr. Anchal Garg