Tennessee State Parks across our region are bringing attention to the insects of the nights, celebrating National Moth Week.
Area Interpretive Ranger Holly Taylor said moths are incredibly diverse, as there are over 1,600 species of moths. Taylor said moths are often times not noticed because of their nocturnal nature. Taylor said moths are known for their fixation on light.
“Scientists are still a little baffled by that,” Taylor said. “We’re not entirely sure why they’re attracted to light. We think that maybe bright lights at night sort of disrupt them in some way, especially UV lighting. And because, historically, they would only have the light of the moon at night. So we think it just sort of disorients them a little bit.”
Taylor said moths are closely related to butterflies and serve a lot of similar functions in the ecosystem. Despite differences in adaptations and appearances, Taylor said both moths and butterflies are an important food source.
“Caterpillars, especially moth caterpillars, form really the overall basis of the diet for a lot of the breeding birds here in the summertime raising their babies,” Taylor said. “Those caterpillars are baby food for the birds. It’s the perfect source of vitamins and fats and proteins they need.”
Taylor said it takes a significant number of caterpillars to raise a chickadee. Taylor said moths are prolific breeders, so there are always plenty of caterpillars to go around.
Taylor said another ecosystem role of moths is pollination. Taylor said there are some plants that bloom overnight that only moths can get to. A notable nocturnal plant moths pollinate is tobacco.
Taylor said high diversity of moth species is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. She said more moths means the presence of more diverse plants, especially native plants in the ecosystem.
Moth observation is one of the key reasons for Tennessee State Parks to observe National Moth Week. Taylor said the week is a celebration of the state’s natural diversity.
“It’s very important that we as a state park system are monitoring the biodiversity that we protect within our state parks,” Taylor said. “Also, to celebrate awareness of that biodiversity so everyone else can become an active participant in protecting that biodiversity.”
Taylor said there have been several moth viewing programs at Tennessee State Parks throughout the week. Taylor People can have their own viewing party at home by setting up a white sheet in front of a light outdoors to attract moths.
