Why Do Moths Like The Light? 6 FAQs About Moths & Butterflies

Why Do Moths Like The Light? 6 FAQs About Moths & Butterflies

Summary: Moths and butterflies are more aesthetically-pleasing critters, but there are a few questions that the public has regarding their habits and features. This blog provides informational answers to 6 frequently-asked questions about butterflies and moths. The questions featured here are: 1) Why do moths like lights? 2) What’s the difference between moths and butterflies? 3) What do moths do? 4) How do caterpillars turn into butterflies? 5) Do moths go through metamorphosis? 6) Are moths and butterflies dangerous? The article ends with a summary of how efficient Pointe Pest Control is when treating common pests.

Butterflies and moths are captivating insects in all of their fluttering glory. They are easy to mistake for each other since both insects have thin, scaly wings that are much larger than their bodies. It’s fun to know the basic facts of these flighty, colorful insects, especially during the warmer months when we see them around our flower gardens. Let’s discover the answers to 6 of the most frequently-asked questions we get about moths and butterflies, from their life cycles to their differences to their potential risks.

Why Do Moths Like Lights?

If we had to choose the most popular question on the list, it would have to be this one. It’s very common to see a small swarm of moths surrounding the porch lights on a warm summer night. The answer to this question basically comes down to the fact that moths use the largest light to navigate the night, and our man-made lights confuse them. They try to fly upwards and stay in the light at all times to stay guarded against predators.

Moths naturally use the moon as their compass since it’s the largest light they have. But when they stumble upon a stadium light or porch light, moths see it as the actual largest light source and their new navigational tool. These insects also have compound eyes that take about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness, so it’s in their best interest to stay under a bright light until the sun comes up.

What’s the Difference Between Moths and Butterflies?

The true distinctions between these insects are in the details. Butterflies and moths are in the same insect family (Lepidoptera), so there aren’t too many obvious differences between the two. Both are important pollinators that generally aren’t a threat to humans, and they are most active in the spring and summer since they need warmer temperatures to survive.

On a basic level, the main differences between moths and butterflies are:

• Colors — Moths and butterflies both have colorful species, but butterflies are usually brighter and more varied in their colors.
• Body Types — Moths have thick, fuzzy bodies and wispy feelers. Butterflies have thin, smooth bodies and skinny feelers. Most of the common butterflies we see are larger than moths, but there are moths that are even bigger. The atlas moth has a 27-centimeter wing span!
• Residues — Butterflies don’t leave anything behind when they land on us, but moths often leave a weird powdery residue. This is due to the hairy scales on their wings that shed powder when they land on something.
• Wing Positions — Watch these insects when they land on a flower or a hard object. Butterflies hold their wings up, while moths lay their wings to the side or wrap them around their bodies.
• Active Times — Every species has its own natural schedule, depending on its environment and abilities. In general, butterflies are active during the day (diurnal) and moths are active at night (nocturnal).

What Do Moths Do?

Butterflies are beautiful insects that pollinate flowers, but what purpose do moths serve? Well, these fuzzy abominations actually help the ecosystem more than we think. Moths just live to mate and produce eggs, which they usually do in the fall so that the eggs can overwinter and hatch in the spring. On a darker note, moths serve a purpose by being food for other creatures. Bats and birds eat a lot of moths since these insects are readily available in their habitats.

Another reason moths exist is to pollinate our flowers. Since their bodies are so fuzzy, moths naturally spread pollen around to other flowers while they feed on the nectar. A moth’s diet depends on its species, and some adult moths don’t have any mouth at all. Moths generally eat nectar, wool, paper, dust, sap, and fruits. Indian meal moths and clothes moths are the most destructive because they eat our pantry foods and fabrics, respectively.

How Do Caterpillars Turn Into Butterflies?

The butterfly’s process of going from a caterpillar to a fully-grown butterfly is a popular subject of elementary school science class, and for good reason. It’s an interesting process called metamorphosis that takes place entirely inside the chrysalis, where we can’t see it. Caterpillars eat a lot before metamorphosis in order to fatten up and have the right amount of energy.

When it’s time, the caterpillar sticks itself to a twig and grows a tougher skin. This skin — the chrysalis — protects the caterpillars as it changes over the course of a few weeks or months. The insect grows wings, legs, feelers, and stronger eyes. When the warm spring weather is consistently warm, the new butterfly leaves its chrysalis to hide on a twig until its damp wings are dry enough for flight.

Do Moths Go Through Metamorphosis?

Moths go through their own type of metamorphosis that’s pretty similar to the butterfly’s process. Instead of a chrysalis, moths make cocoons out of silk from their own bodies. After thickening up by chowing on their favorite foods, the moth caterpillars produce enough silk to encase themselves. They usually hide in their cocoons under leaf litter, in the ground, or on the side of a structure.

The moth’s cocoon is thick enough to keep the young moth warm throughout its growing process, which comes in handy during the colder months. It takes anywhere from 5 to 21 days, depending on the species. Similar to butterflies, moths grow wings and other final body parts inside their cases. This insect needs to hide while its wings dry out and straighten, then the adult moth is free to fly away.

Are Moths and Butterflies Dangerous?

Generally, the moths and butterflies we see in the U.S. aren’t dangerous at all. They don’t spread diseases or bite us. In fact, moths can’t bite at all since their mouths (for the species that have mouths) are too small! Some moth caterpillars can sting, like the buck moth caterpillar. We’d recommend not holding on to any caterpillar just to be safe, but they’re usually pretty docile anyway. Adult moths can trigger allergy symptoms in people who have those, but moths would have to be around for a while to really make an impact.

Moths are more of a nuisance than butterflies, especially the clothes moth and pantry moth varieties. The latter ones can contaminate our food, so throw out anything you find that has moths in it. Any “dangerous” butterflies are just considered that because they eat poisonous plants as caterpillars. Monarchs and pipevine swallowtails are two poisonous types, but you would have to eat them to be in danger, so birds and bats are more impacted than humans. We’ve heard of having butterflies in your stomach, but this is ridiculous!

Pointe Prevents Pests of All Shapes & Sizes

Any pest that invades a house only brings trouble, especially when they ruin our belongings (looking at you, clothes moths!). That’s why the experienced technicians of Pointe Pest Control are committed to solving every pest issue as efficiently as possible. We first inspect the property for all signs of pest activity, then use our findings to create a treatment plan customized to solve your pest problems. Our team is also happy to address any questions and concerns you have along the way. For a free quote on the most reliable pest control in town, contact us today!

Citations

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Fallon, C. (2021, July 14). For the love of moths. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Available at https://xerces.org/blog/for-love-of-moths (Accessed on June 6, 2024).

Harney, C. (2024, April 18). Front porch view: How to prevent front porch pests. Green Pest Services. Available at https://greenpestservices.net/front-porch-view-how-to-prevent-porch-light-pests/ (Accessed on June 6, 2024).

Konkel, L. (2012, July 27). 7 things you don’t know about moths, but should. Live Science. Available at https://www.livescience.com/21933-moth-week-facts.html (Accessed on June 6, 2024).

What’s the difference?: Chrysalis vs. cocoon. (2021, September 3). Forest Preserve District Will County. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/what-s-the-difference-chrysalis-vs-cocoon/