71–80 of 111 posts
The huge difference between moths and butterflies is surprising as I consider moths nocturnal butterflies. I wonder what causes the difference.
i think we need both, and others
The huge difference between moths and butterflies is surprising as I consider moths nocturnal butterflies. I wonder what causes the difference.
Indeed, in many languages, even unrelated ones like Finnish, Greek, and Vietnamese, the word for moth is "night butterfly".
The huge difference between moths and butterflies is surprising as I consider moths nocturnal butterflies. I wonder what causes the difference.
Indeed, in many languages, even unrelated ones like Finnish, Greek, and Vietnamese, the word for moth is "night butterfly".
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don’t forget about hummingbirds. In the Americas, a lot of the pollinating job of moths is done by hummingbirds. Hummingbirds in the day, moths at night. My impression is that bees and moths/hummingbirds mostly work on different kinds of flowers that are evolved for the size and mouths of pollinators,
As a gardener I have noticed that most types of insects tend to visit as many flowers as possible. None seem to show a vast preference. I know that's not what the data shows but it's my experience.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow! Learned something new today. I've been misinformed into believe that mosquitoes are useless, and we should wipe them out.
They also move nutrients down the food chain. The larvae and the mosquitoes they produce feed lots of birds and other insects.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow! Learned something new today. I've been misinformed into believe that mosquitoes are useless, and we should wipe them out.
They are useless and harmful, there are far better pollinators than mosquitos.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don’t forget about hummingbirds. In the Americas, a lot of the pollinating job of moths is done by hummingbirds. Hummingbirds in the day, moths at night. My impression is that bees and moths/hummingbirds mostly work on different kinds of flowers that are evolved for the size and mouths of pollinators,
As a gardener I have noticed that most types of insects tend to visit as many flowers as possible. None seem to show a vast preference. I know that's not what the data shows but it's my experience.
That might be some kind of observation effect. Which isn't surprising either: there are various species out there which have a distinct preference for, or even visit only, one specific family of native plants or even just one particular plant. If those plants are already less common to begin with (due to various reasons, unfortunately often human-induced) there's a lot less chance you'll ever get to see the insects which rely on those plants. Just 2 of the many examples for Western Europe which are in decline and becoming hard to find are Andrena hattorfiana haemorrhoidalis and Andrena pandellei. You'd have to be fairly lucky to just see them in your garden, you'd already need to pay attention to now mow the plants they're after at the correct time, if you already have those to begin with. Likewise the more generalist insects who visit a wide range of plants will be much easier to witness.
So with all of this talk for years about colony collapse and food shortages yet moths were doing the bulk of the pollinating the whole time? Or am I missing something. Not that colony collapse doesn’t worry me, it does. But if I was being baselessly told to fear agriculture production issues, I am super mad.
> Not that colony collapse doesn’t worry me, it does. But if I was being baselessly told to fear agriculture production issues, I am super mad. Maybe before getting emotionally attached to a position (again) you should understand what’s going on.
I hate bug zappers. They should be illegal. All they do is kill moths and beetles. They are entirely ineffective against mosquitoes and other biting flies, and their otherwise indiscriminate killing disrupts pollination and generally throws the local environment completely out of balance.