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Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

phys.org

11–20 of 111 posts

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#12

....and more efficient at eating my expensive clothes and my brassicas, so fuck moths and bring on the native bee, wasp and butterfly populations

There are many different species of moths and only a few eat clothing...

indeed, and i would not like to exterminate any of them. but it is bit irritating when the wool pullover you put away in spring is completely buggered come autumn. they are difficult to get rid of.

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#13
post #5
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

honey bees are not native to north america. Native Americans called them "white man's flies" (or should I not be learning history by watching westerns?)

Honey bees, sure, but there are plenty of native bee species to North America.

Thee native bees are also about 100x better at pollinating than honeybees.

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#14
post #5
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

honey bees are not native to north america. Native Americans called them "white man's flies" (or should I not be learning history by watching westerns?)

Honey bees, sure, but there are plenty of native bee species to North America.

That list of native bees includes bumblebees, in case anybody was conflating them with honeybees.

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#15
post #7

Bees also produce honey in the process, basically for free. Everything in real life is a balancing act!

Honeybees are actually not very good at pollinating plants; they take most of the pollen back to their hive instead of spreading it between plants. Furthermore, they often outcompete (non-honey producing) indigenous bees that are actually good at pollinating plants.

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#16
post #7

Bees also produce honey in the process, basically for free. Everything in real life is a balancing act!

I mean, honey is pure carbs, so anything that produces so much excess of it can’t possibly be very efficient

Honeybees are domesticated, and as usual humans tend to select for animals that produce more. Even so they'd need to produce enough to hold the hive over winter.

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#17
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are many different species of moths and only a few eat clothing...

indeed, and i would not like to exterminate any of them. but it is bit irritating when the wool pullover you put away in spring is completely buggered come autumn. they are difficult to get rid of.

Been there. Moth balls really work.

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#18
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are many different species of moths and only a few eat clothing...

indeed, and i would not like to exterminate any of them. but it is bit irritating when the wool pullover you put away in spring is completely buggered come autumn. they are difficult to get rid of.

Naphtalene is supposed to deter them. It doesn't smell pleasant but at least it sublimates, leaving no stains.

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#19
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

indeed, and i would not like to exterminate any of them. but it is bit irritating when the wool pullover you put away in spring is completely buggered come autumn. they are difficult to get rid of.

Been there. Moth balls really work.

Any advice on usage? How many/ what placement do you do? Had you success with the wood ones (Cedar ?) or another type? Sanding any x times or not at all?

Re: Moths are more efficient pollinators than bees: new research

#20
post #3

....and more efficient at eating my expensive clothes and my brassicas, so fuck moths and bring on the native bee, wasp and butterfly populations

honey bees are not native to north america. Native Americans called them "white man's flies" (or should I not be learning history by watching westerns?)

So that is why corn syrup is popular in US?
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