Flights on a Summer Night
The nights of the South are often hot, humid and still. Winds typically die down at night and allow for the nocturnal flights of an amazing variety of insect life. Moths are some of our most fascinating nocturnal creatures. They range in size, coloration and behavior. Like butterflies, moths go through stages – from egg to caterpillar to cocoon, and finally to adult moth. Some of the largest and most spectacular native moths are the Imperial, Emperor, Hawk, Luna and Regal moths. Their caterpillars are also very large. Most moths sip nectar from night-blooming flowers, but some adults, like those of the Luna moth, do not eat at all and live just to mate and lay eggs. During the daytime, moths, most of whom have dramatically camouflaged bodies, hide among leaf litter, tree bark and in crevices in rocks, trees, debris or buildings. To avoid predators, moths have scaly wings that rarely stick to spiders’ webs and feathery antennae to hear the incoming echolocations of bats. Stay up late one summer night—you may be intrigued by the life you see outdoors!
Viewer Tip: Providing insects with habitat is one of the best ways to attract and observe them. Plant native trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs for cover and as host plants. Moths prefer the flowers of native plants with white, strongly scented flowers for food.
This information is provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. For more information and recommendations for specific plants, visit the Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Online Guide to the Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife www.gwf.org.
Season: Summer
(Source: Geyata Ajilvsgi, Butterfly Gardening for the South, TX: Taylor Publishing Company, 1990.)
