Animal Life - Moth Week
Moths make up the vast majority of the order Lepidoptera, thought to number 160,000 species, but many are still unknown.
One guiding principle to tell a moth from a butterfly is to look at the antennae - butterflies have thin antennae and moths' are more feathery.
Moths evolved long before butterflies, and are among the most diverse and successful creatures on the planet.
Moths (and their caterpillars) can be pests, but they can have economic value as well, such as the silkworm. It is farmed for the silk it makes for its cocoon.
We all know moths are attracted to light, but we only have hypotheses, one of which is celestial orientation. Studies have found that increased light pollution has led to a decline in populations and nocturnal pollination.
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