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Moths Everywhere, Day and Night

© N. Lou Lyons

At any given moment throughout the entire year, moths are undergoing different phases of developmental growth. In keeping with the laws of nature, fertilized moth eggs eventually evolve into a rich variety of shapes, sizes, pattern designs and colors of winged adults. These six-legged members of the animal kingdom experience a rather elaborate process to assure species survival.

Just a little background information is needed to find moths in each of four life cycle phases. A day walk outdoors or luring them near at night may bring some amazing discoveries.

Along with butterflies, moths are classified into the order Lepidoptera, which means scale and wing. In North America, more than 11,000 species of this order have been named and divided into 75 families and subfamilies.

There are no hard and fast rules as to what differenciates a moth from a butterfly. Usually adult moths are seen at night. Many adults never eat; they emerge from their cocoon only to breed then die so future generations may continue to live. However some moths do fly during the day and feed on nectar as well.

Butterflies are often thought to be more attractive than moths. In truth, many families of moths contain species whose beauty may far surpass some specimens of their more popular relatives. In this respect, are two well-known silk moths from the family Saturniidae. They are North America’s largest moth, the Cecropia Hyalophora cecropia and the Luna moth Actias luna.

All moths have four distinct developmental stages and go through complete metamorphosis. Once the female deposits fertilized eggs on a host surface the process begins. Right outside your door may be thousands of moth eggs laid directly on a foliage surface, or covered in some type of egg case. Usually eggs laid within cases will winter over and hatch in the spring or later in the year. Numbers of eggs vary between the species. As few as several dozen or as many as a thousand may be laid. Within a week, or up to one year, the eggs hatch into larva known as caterpillars. This is the 2nd stage of growth.

Caterpillars, sometimes called worms, are most widely known by the destruction they cause. During the larva phase of life caterpillars consume a great deal of food. They destroy acres and acres of agriculture and forest each year.

Each species of moth has certain host areas that are more suitable for feeding larva once they emerge. Some moths prefer particular trees and plants, but will lay eggs on or near less desirable foliage if necessary. If you live where there are apple, wild cherry or maples, beware of the tent caterpillar. These caterpillars are easily seen. Just look inside the large

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