Postive Post - Nocturnal Beauties
by Codie
As I was returning from the grocery store a couple nights ago l couldn’t help but notice this tiny green moth on the front of my screen door. I decided to figure out exactly what type of moth this was. This moth is named the Red-Bordered Emerald. What an appropriate name. This little moth is in the Geometridae family. As I was browsing through all the different websites I discovered, I noticed just how many of these moths I have seen on my own front porch at night. One for example is this moth, the Rosy Maple Moth.
Every time I notice this moth I can’t help but stop to look at it for a couple seconds. I mean how many times do you get to see a pink and yellow moth?
How are moths important to us though? Well, the caterpillars of certain moths are used for the production of silk. Workers unravel the moths cocoon into single long threads and then combine them with other moth’s silks. Moths also pollinate nocturnal plants similar to the ways a bee does (Worldbook). Next time you’re out late at night keep a watch out for some of these nocturnal beauties.
Which of these moths have you seen on your front porch at night?
November 14th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Wow. The Rosy Maple Moth is very unique. Ilove the bright colors. Usually, when i think of a moth, I picture an ugly gray flying object, but this blog has shown me that moths can be beautiful. To me, the Rosy Maple Moth looks like a flower thats has a few petels missing from it, because of this, the moth is able to blend into it environment very well. I almost misstook this moth as a butterfly. I never had an intrest in moths, but definitly like the moths in this blog. Go to this link for more pictures of the Rosy Maple Moth.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1085579095037075193yleHQk
Thanks Codie! This was a great blog.
November 14th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Wow those moths were really cool! The pink and yellow one was my favorite. I never even knew that there were all these types of moths out there. I only ones that I have ever seen are brown and occasionally a few green ones. Does the color of the moth symbolize anything about it? for example are the colored ones poisonious to some other plants and animals?
November 14th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
When I saw the picture of the red-bordered emerald moth I instantly recognized it and realized i’ve seen it multiple times before. Moths are always so pretty colored. But i’ve always wondered..does anyone know why they are so attracted to light if they’re nocturnal alot?
November 14th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
COOL!!!!! I have never seen a moth like the Rosy Maple Moth. If I have, I probably figured it to be a butterfly. The ones that I’ve seen are more like some of those listed on this website (http://piccies.flybywire.org.uk/ButterfliesMoths/BySpecies-BritishMoths.html).
Caroline, this website (http://www.txtwriter.com/Backgrounders/Evolution/EVpage08.html) might answer part of your question.
Awesome blog, Codie.
November 14th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I love the Rosy Maple Moth!It’s so cool! I’ve never seen either of these moths, but I have seen a Luna Moth before. They are those big green moths with the yellow spots. They kind of look like butterflies. They’re really cool too.
November 14th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
This is a really good post Codie! The pink and yellow moth is really pretty. I’ve actually never seen the pink and yellow moth before or heard of it. I’ve seen the typical brown ones that are in your garage and such and maybe a couple green ones.
That’s a good question Caroline. Are any moth poisonous? Also, do any moths bite or sting people or other animals?
November 14th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
I used to think the only kinds of moths out there were gray and blah, but I was totally wrong!! These moths are so vibrant and beautiful! I’ve never seen these before, but I wish I have, because they are so amazing. I like the Emerald one, and I think the furry looking pink one is totally wild (it reminds me of my aunt’s slippers
) I also never knew how important moths were, I didn’t know they even had a purpose. I think it’s also good that they pollinate nocturnal plants. Maybe if bees really do die out, which I hope never happens, we can use these moths to help us out. Since these are nocturnal moths, does that mean that they are not attracted to the light like other moths are? I also have the same question as Caroline, do their colors have any important purpose or meaning (other than the reason for their names)? Great post, Codie!!
November 14th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Cool, I always see moths and other insects buzzing into lights at night, is there any particular reason for it or can they just not help themselves?
November 14th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Most moths are colored the way they are for camoflauge from predators but I would assume there are some that are colored the way they are for a more important reason such as a fake sign to others that they are poisonous or are in fact poisonous. Here is a site that I found that is pretty cool. Check it out! [http://bugguide.net/node/view/82]
November 14th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
As to your answer Ali I have discovered several websites that explain the many theories as to why moths are so attracted to light. No one has found one real reason why they are though. Great question! It made me do a lot of research.
http://ask.yahoo.com/20030708.html
http://butterflies.freeservers.com/moth_light.html
November 14th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
I know exactly what you are talking about Codie!! Actually Idid some research like a little nerd and I found out that the wingspan of a moth can get up to 4 inches long. And ido not know if this is true but I once heard that when a moth touches a light, like a light bulb for example, it becomes blinded for a second creating it to panic and flutter but when it’s sight always comes back to normal… eventually. But I was wondering like alot of others (as I see in their comments) why are they so attracted to light?
November 14th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
The red maple moth is absolutely gorgeous. I have never seen anything like it. I’ll have to show that one to my grandmother, she likes butterflies and moths and what not. I think my favorite moth is still the luna moth. I think it is absolutely beautiful and when it flies it looks so graceful. I liked the website that had the pictures on it, I thought it was funny that some of the moths looked more like bees. If they appear more like bees, why aren’t they classified as bees or a wasp of some kind? They did not look anything like the moths I am used to seeing. I did not know how important moths were either. I knew that they pollinated plants, but I didn’t know that they pollinated nocturnal plants. Truthfully, I never knew that such a thing existed. Great post codie
November 14th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
That is a cool post Codie. I can’t believe something as simple as moths were so important. That really makes me realize that we need to take care of the animals on this earth. They are so vital to us, and we don’t even know it. I can’t imagine the earth without some of these animals. I have personally never seen these kinds of moth before. And I have an answer to your question Roger. Moths use the moon as a navigatior when flying around at night. They position themselves in line to the moon, when migrating bright lights might be mistaken for the the moon and it throws off their ability to navigate, so they bump into the lights.
November 14th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
This is very postive way to look at things that most of the time you just swat away. I see moths a lot on patio especially by the light. Most of the time i just see the gray ones without a lot of color. I did find it interesting that the make silk from moths. I thought it was just silkworms. Does anyone know were we get most of our silk from: worms or moths? While I was investigating I found this site on moths found in Georgia.
http://www.daltonstate.edu/galeps/
November 14th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
In response to your question Morgan, moths are attracted to light because they need it to see and are nocturnal and only fly at night. They see very little without the help of lights. I found this at: http://butterflies.freeservers.com/moth_light.html
November 14th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
WOW! What an awesome post codie! Before this I had thought that all moths were just gray and brown. I had no idea that they could be pink! All i’ve seen around my house is the polyphemus moth. There were some pretty interesting moths on that site. And thanks ali for explaining that to me up above, I had always wondered the reason that moths were attracted to light, but thats very interesting.
November 14th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
woah! that is awesome! i never knew moths had hair on them! in new jersey they were always around our backyard and like alli said i never knew why they flew toward the light. but what i still dont get is since they know going towards some lights are bad…wouldnt they just stop?
November 15th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I know what you are talking about Codie. I see moths all the time especially around light. I have never seen a pink and yellow one before though. Thats really cool. I have seen the green ones all the time though.
Here is a cool website that explains why moth are attracted to lights…
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question675.htm
November 15th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Hey guys. I think that this web site may have the answer to your questions(Why do moths fly twords the light?) You can find the answer here:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question675.htm
Let me know if it helped!
November 15th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Yeah, I agree. This was a really interesting post. We always pass by extroardinary things in life because we simple don’t pay attention to the little things. I am glad that people keep pointing out the many things going on in life that we usually don’t notice. So are those two moths mentioned on this blog “one of the few” that come from the caterpillars that make silk?
November 15th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Cool post Codie. I have seen moths before near my porch lights a lot but i didnt know that moths could have such bright colors like the rosy maple moth. Here is a website where you can see hundreds of pictures of moths and buterflies too. http://flickr.com/groups/butterfliesnorthamerica/pool/ .
November 15th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Wow! The Rosy Maple Moth is unbelievable! I have never seen any animal with such bright colors! That website is great, Jordan. It has some really interesting hypotheses as to why moths are attracted to light. It said that one possible explanation is that they use the moon to direct their migration course, and are therefore naturally attracted to lights. I NEVER would have thought of that. Great post, Codie!
November 15th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I think the giant silk moth is one of the most interesting in Georgia. Its huge green wings really make it stand out. Its amazing how beautiful some moths are
November 15th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Wow!! I have never seen a moth quite like the Rosy Maple Moth. I searched around the net and I found some pictures at (http://www.carolinanature.com/moths/rosymaple.html). This website (http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef008.asp) also tells about some other moths as well as the Rosy Maple Moth.
November 15th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Great post Codie! I always see moths on my porch to and always wondered what kind they were. I think i actually saw the Red-Bordered Emerald on my porch too! My favorite has to go to the Rosy Maple moth. It is really impossible not to stop and look at it =)
It is just a small opening to the great creations that God has made.
Yay for moths!
November 15th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Since you guys seem to be enjoying the Rosy Maple Moth I thought I would look up a couple of other interesting looking moths. Here you go!
http://www.otariwiltonsbush.org.nz/uploads/images/Puriri%20moth%20009%20web.jpg
http://tdpc02.fnal.gov/peterson/tom/Moths/Saturniidae/Saturniidae-Images/PrometheaMothFermi30May06-1sc.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.astro.ufl.edu/~dmclark/Critters/Critters-Images/0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.astro.ufl.edu/~dmclark/Critters/Critters-Pages/Image0.html&h=375&w=500&sz=57&hl=en&start=4&sig2=SQGk-zfGFyTX4DUIvIB0RQ&um=1&tbnid=eB5CvX3IY2ElCM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&ei=Jwc9R4n6MIrWiQH05-z7Bw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcool%2Blooking%2Bmoths%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN
Sorry the links are so long!! Enjoy
November 16th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I have always hated the moths that I see on my porch at night. They are annoying and they are just ugly little creatures. I have never seen these kinds of moths. They are really cool. It makes me appreciate moths a whole lot more to know that there are some really cool looking ones like the Rosy Maple Moth. Here is a sideshow of amazing moths.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JfkT7KLCen0
It also helps to know that they help us. It seems like every creature, even the annoying ones help us in some way. There really is a purpose for all creatures.
November 18th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Cody, the Rosy Maple Moth is a very pretty and unique moth. Though such a brightly colored moth seemed that it wouldn’t be indigenous to such a moderate climate. Here is a video on the Elephant Hawk-moth. http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZtRA1SvyqEo&feature=related
It looks just like the Rosy Maple Moth but is native to Northern Ireland.
November 19th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
That rosy maple moth is so pretty! I wanted to find some more information about this pretty creature and I found out that these moths are actually very common. They look so exotic and rare but in reality are not. Good post codie!
Here is the website I found:
http://www.carolinanature.com/moths/rosymaple.html
November 19th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Cooper cool video I am right there with Jake i always thought that moths could only be brown or gray but this had totally changed my view on the different insects this world has provided.
November 19th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Grant, In watching your video I noticed that there were many unique and colorful moths. I noticed that some even blended perfectly with their environment, I was just wanted to know if the patterns on the moths back are developed while in the cocoon.
November 21st, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I have actually seen a Luna Moth before. It was really big and we found it on the inside of an old, decaying tree. It was sitting in a bunch of sawdust, and it was preparing to go into its cocoon. It was really cool. My brother actually took it in to show his kindergarden class last year when we found it. I had actually forgot about it before looking at your post, so thanks for helping me remember something that was such a beautiful part of nature. I found this web site with some cool facts on the luna moth:
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/luna.html
Cool post!
November 25th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Those moths are so cool! I love the pink and yellow one, although I have never seen that one on my porch, I think I have seen the green and red one. Speaking of cool little bugs on our porches, one night when my family and I was coming back from eating dinner, we saw a praying mantis! It was 4 inches long! It was really cool, i think the praying mantis is the coolest bug ever!
December 9th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I love the moths color. it is so gorgeous. i know the moths have alot of kinds. i once see the yellow moth that was so gorgeous. before i saw that i thought all moths are grey or black. the moths can be beautiful
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 am
since y’all are all extreme and whatnot…I was digging in the garden when I found a darkly colored pupa (almost black) that was 1.5 to 2 inches long. When it writhed I could see a reddish color between the segments. I burried it in some moist, loose soil in an old candy jar and hope it isn’t too damaged to hatch. Still, I’d like to know what kind it is. My house is semi-deep woods in middle Tn. As far as I’ve found, its a Royal CHestnut moth, but maybe y’all know better. Can you help me?