As pollination continues to be one of the most important ecological processes, it’s only fair that we understand better who is responsible for fulfilling that niche. Primarily, one may think about bees and butterflies for daytime pollination, and bats for nighttime pollination. But there’s an important participant in this niche that sometimes gets forgotten – moths!
Moths are the most abundant invertebrates in the entire Lepidoptera order, making up 91% of the group. Even so, we still lack crucial information about their role in the ecosystem, and their population trends. In recent years scientists have seen their populations decline, mainly due to common, notable disturbances like climate change and habitat loss. This serves as a problematic trend, as the overall purpose of moths in ecosystems ranges from pollinators, to prey, and even decomposers – all essential functions for a healthy environment.
In particular, there is a family of moths called hawk moths, or sphinx moths (family Sphingidae), which are notable for their features. Characteristically large, these moths have wing that don’t fold together like many moth groups, and are known to hover like hummingbirds while they’re pollinating flowers. Here in Costa Rica, we have over 10,000 species of hawk moths, yet this group of invertebrates still remains chronically understudied and mysterious. So, how does one go about learning more?
Researcher Kristen Watkins from the US was determined to increase the information we have about the hawk moths here at Cloudbridge. By choosing different survey locations within naturally regenerated forests and planted forests, she aimed to learn more about the abundance, diversity, and habitat preferences of moths throughout the reserve, with a specific focus on the Sphingidae family. Using a UV LED light system (pictured above), she saw an enormous amount of individual moths throughout her 10 week sampling period. To see what families she saw and what preferences the Sphingidae has, be sure to read her paper here to find out more!
Suggested Reading:
- It’s relatively common knowledge that pollination is essential for both our food systems and the livelihood of animals globally, but did you know there are several different ways pollination can occur? Additionally, we recommend planting native pollinator plants within your yards to encourage pollinator populations to increase!
- Some plants have evolved alongside moths, creating an efficient pollination relationship. There are flowers that have been discovered to only open at nighttime, suggesting that moths serve as a bigger pollinator participant than previously thought. These flowers have also adapted to have pale colors, which better reflect the moonlight, and hence attract moths even more.
- There are more participants to pollination than most people realize, and the actual process of pollination is absolutely fascinating. Understanding better how pollination works is one small step you can take to have a better relationship with the world around you!