The Secret Nightlife of Moths: Why These "Ugly Butterflies" Are the Unsung Heroes of Your Backyard
Want to see more songbirds in your yard? Don't put out a feeder; plant a native oak. A single chickadee pair needs 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars to raise one clutch of eggs. The vast majority of those caterpillars? Moth larvae. Moths are the protein bars of the avian world. Even black bears rip open rotten logs in spring specifically to eat the high-protein moth larvae inside. enature
Because moth species have very specific host plants (the plant their caterpillar must eat to survive), their presence tells us exactly how healthy an ecosystem is. A drop in local moth diversity is often the first warning sign of pesticide overuse or habitat fragmentation. How to Watch the Night Shift (A Family Activity) You don't need a PhD in entomology to appreciate moths. In fact, you can turn your backyard into a field station tonight. The Secret Nightlife of Moths: Why These "Ugly