Tag

Moths

All articles tagged with #moths

science20 days ago•5 min saved

Two Genes, 120 Million Years: Repeating Mimicry in Butterflies and Moths

A study of neotropical butterflies and a day-flying moth shows that the same two genes, ivory (a long noncoding RNA) and optix (a transcription factor), underlie similar wing color patterns across species separated by over 120 million years, with regulatory changes near ivory driving the variation. In the moth Chetone histrio, a chromosomal inversion including ivory mirrors a butterfly inversion, suggesting recurrent use of a shared genomic toolkit that constrains evolutionary pathways and could help predict responses to environmental change.

via Indian Defence Review|

#butterflies #evolution #genetics

theater2 months ago•510 min saved

Waiting Room of Truth: Moths, Mortality, and the Masks of Love on Stage

Vulture critic Sara Holdren reviews Wallace Shawn and André Gregory’s What We Did Before Our Moth Days at Greenwich House Theater, a three-hour, four-actor dramatic meditation on marriage, desire, and death. Structurally similar to My Dinner With André, the piece uses monologues and a stark set—windows and moth projections—to peel away surfaces and reveal the characters’ evasions, fears, and cruelties. The cast—Josh Hamilton, Maria Dizzia, Hope Davis, and John Early—delivers a precise, unnerving balance of humor and horror, guided by Gregory’s exacting, long-rehearsed direction. The play examines how love persists and dissolves through performances and lies, presenting death as a guiding presence that finally exposes what’s real. What We Did Before Our Moth Days runs at the Greenwich House Theater through May 10.

via Vulture|

#andre-gregory #moths #theater

science3 months ago•12 min saved

Hidden in Plain Flight: 2025 Cryptic Moth Carcina ingridmariae Revealed

Austria’s Dr. Peter Huemer used DNA barcoding and genitalia dissection to reveal Carcina ingridmariae as a new cryptic species, distinct from Carcina quercana by 6.5% in a 658-base-pair COI gene; described in Alpine Entomology (Aug 2025) and named in honor of his wife Ingrid Maria, the moth spans the eastern Mediterranean (Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Turkey) and was identified from about 100 specimens, illustrating how cryptic species can hide in plain sight.

via A-Z Animals|

#carcina-ingridmariae #cryptic-species #dna-barcoding

science4 months ago•27 min saved

Plants click back: moths use plant distress sounds to pick egg sites

Researchers found female moths (Spodoptera littoralis) can hear ultrasonic sounds emitted by drought-stressed plants and use these cues to decide where to lay eggs. In experiments without real plants, moths preferred locations near a stress sound; when healthy plants were present, they avoided the stressed plants, showing context-based decision-making that integrates sound with smell.

via Earth.com|

#insects #moths #oops

environment9 months ago•2 min saved

Urban Green Spaces Essential for Pollinator Conservation

Research in UK cities shows urbanization significantly reduces pollinator diversity, especially moths and hover flies, which are more sensitive than bees. To support these vital insects, gardeners are encouraged to create diverse habitats and collaborate with neighbors to form larger ecological networks, helping urban ecosystems thrive.

via The Guardian|

#biodiversity #environment #hover-flies

science11 months ago•2 min saved

Bogong Moths Use Stars and the Milky Way for Long-Distance Navigation

Australian Bogong moths use the stars as a navigational guide during their long migration to cool down in caves, making them the first known invertebrates to navigate using celestial cues, alongside Earth's magnetic field, demonstrating remarkable navigational abilities despite their tiny brains.

via PBS|

#animal-migration #australian-alps #invertebrates

science11 months ago•3 min saved

Bogong Moths Use Stars to Navigate 600-Mile Migration

Researchers discovered that Australian Bogong moths use the starry sky, specifically the Milky Way, to navigate during their long migrations to the Australian Alps, marking the first evidence of invertebrates using stars for navigation and highlighting their reliance on visual cues alongside Earth's magnetic field. Protecting these moths through measures like reducing light pollution could aid in conserving their populations and the broader ecosystem.

via NPR|

#animal-behavior #australian-alps #migration

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Attracting Trouble: Rethinking Common Sayings"

Researchers have observed a decline in the number of insects caught in light traps, indicating a potential change in moths' attraction to light. A study published in the Journal of Insect Conservation found that while some light traps showed declining numbers of corn earworm moths, their catches in pheromone traps remained consistent. This suggests a shift in moths' behavior towards light sources. The study raises questions about the long-held belief that moths are irresistibly drawn to light and highlights the need for more comprehensive tracking programs to understand insect behavior.

via The New York Times|

#entomology #evolution #insect-decline

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Study Finds Butterfly Genomes Unchanged for 250 Million Years"

A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution reveals that the genomes of butterflies and moths have remained largely unchanged for over 250 million years, providing clues to their resilience in the face of environmental changes. Researchers traced the genetic code back to the first butterflies, identifying 32 ancestral chromosomes. The study sheds light on the genetic stability of Lepidoptera, a diverse group making up 10% of living organisms, and its potential implications for biodiversity conservation efforts amidst rapid species loss.

via The Guardian|

#biodiversity-conservation #butterfly-genomes #evolution

science2 years ago•5 min saved

"The Truth About Insects and Light: It's Not Attraction, It's Confusion"

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that moths and other nocturnal insects are not actually drawn to light, but rather become disoriented and trapped in an orbit around artificial light sources, as observed through motion-capture cameras and infrared illumination. This behavior is attributed to the insects mistaking the artificial light for the sky, impacting their flight patterns. The research sheds light on the impact of light pollution on insect populations and challenges previous theories about insects being attracted to light due to heat or mistaking it for the moon. The findings could aid in conservation efforts by minimizing the effects of light pollution on insects.

via CNN|

#insects #light-pollution #moths

science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Investigating the Mystery of Insects' Attraction to Artificial Light"

Researchers have discovered that moths and other flying insects are not actually attracted to lights at night, but rather become trapped in their glow due to an evolutionary behavior that causes them to tilt their backs towards the brightest source, which historically was the sky. This behavior, evolved over millions of years, now leads them to orbit artificial lights, making them easy prey for predators and disrupting their feeding patterns. The study suggests that minimizing the use of short wavelengths in artificial lighting could help reduce the negative impact on insect populations.

via The Guardian|

#entomology #insects #light-pollution

science2 years ago•2 min saved

Ancient DNA Blocks Unite Butterflies and Moths, New Research Shows

New research reveals that butterflies, moths, and aquatic caddisflies share DNA "blocks" dating back over 200 million years, providing insights into their genetic history and the evolution of chromosomes. Scientists developed a method to analyze the chromosomes of these species and found shared blocks of homology, indicating a common ancestry. This study improves understanding of moth and butterfly gene evolution and may also aid in studying chromosome evolution in other organisms.

via SciTechDaily|

#butterflies #chromosome-evolution #dna

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Decoding the Alluring Scent of Male Moth Pheromones

Scientists have identified the complex chemical cocktail that comprises the aphrodisiac pheromone in male moths, specifically the tobacco budworm moth. The pheromone includes a combination of alcohols, aldehydes, acetates, carboxylic acids, aliphatic polyunsaturated hydrocarbons, and plant compounds such as methyl salicylate (MeSA), which is also found in spearmint gum. The male moth's diet is the source of these compounds. The study suggests that MeSA increases a male moth's chances of mating, and female moths are tuned in to this chemical signal when choosing a mate.

via Inverse|

#chemical-communication #male-moths #mating

science-and-technology2 years ago•5 min saved

Moths' invisibility cloaks evade biosonar predators.

Researchers from the University of Bristol and Diamond Light Source have discovered how moths create a powerful stealth cloak preventing detection by biosonar. By harnessing the ingenious properties of moth wings, a sound absorber can be created that offers high absorption with minimal space requirements. The goal is to improve living conditions as such moth-inspired sound absorbers can be 90% thinner and lighter than existing solutions, bringing exotic materials like sound-absorbing wallpaper in reach.

via Phys.org|

#biodiversity #biosonar #diamond-light-source

environment3 years ago•4 min saved

The Importance of Saving Moths Alongside Bees

A new study from the University of Sheffield suggests that night-time pollinators such as moths may visit just as many plants as bees, and should also be the focus of conservation and protection efforts. Moths play a crucial role in supporting urban plant communities, accounting for a third of all pollination in flowering plants, crops and trees. The researchers suggest that when planning or redeveloping urban areas, supporting the introduction of plant species that are beneficial for moths, as well as bees, will become increasingly important for the health of urban ecosystems.

via Phys.org|

#bees #conservation #environment