Insects are animals with a great diversity and distribution on the planet. Within this broad group we find moths, which belong to the order of Lepidoptera, where butterflies are also located. There is a wide range of these flying insects and, although in many cases they have extremely important functions within ecosystems, in others they cause damage to forests and plantations because the caterpillars feed aggressively on various types of plants.
In this article on our site we will talk specifically about the types of moths, so we invite you to continue reading to learn about them and expand your knowledge.
Characteristics of moths
Although there are different types of moths, each one with its particularities, they all have a series of common characteristics, although of course there are exceptions. So, let's get to know the traits that characterize moths below:
- They can vary in size, from a few millimeters to several centimeters in length.
- The antennae are threadlike or feathery in appearance, but very varied within the group.
- When at rest, the wings can remain on the body or spread out.
- They have ultrasonic hearing organs.
- Its life cycle goes through four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult or imago.
- Moths generally have monochromatic and inconspicuous colors, but there are exceptions, as we shall see.
- Reproduction is internal, mediated mainly by sound and chemical communication through the production of pheromones.
- They have flattened scales on their wings and other parts of their bodies.
- Certain species go through a period known as diapause, which is a state of minimal metabolic activity. Discover What is diapause in this other post if you want to delve deeper into the subject.
- Normally, are nocturnal, although some may be diurnal.
Classification of moths
Classifying moths has not been an easy job, since they constitute a very large group. There are an estimated 160,000 species of Lepidoptera in the world and moths make up more than 80% of the group. In this sense, taxonomy has been a major activity.
Given the above, it is practically impossible to give a precise categorization of the group, which is why certain classifications known as artificial and, although not taxonomically supported, may be useful for grouping moths according to certain traits. An example of the above is that the group called Heterócera is included, a word that refers to varied antennae, since although they lack the apexes with clubs or balls of butterflies (being threadlike), they do not have a unique appearance.
Another way to classify them, also artificially, is into micro and macroheteroceros, which is based on size. Moths are also called nocturnal butterflies, but this is still a criterion without the possibility of absolute application, because although it is common for their activity to be at night or at twilight, some are diurnal.
On the other hand, from the taxonomic point of view, some 120 families have been specified, which continues to show us their abundance and the arduousness of mentioning them all. In this way, in general, moths are classified as follows:
- Animalia Kingdom
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- No Range: Heterocera
Then, some proposals consider the levels of superfamily, subfamily, family, tribe, genus, subgenus and species.
Types of large moths
Since there is no clear and fixed classification of the different types of moths, we will talk in the different sections about the differences in size, as well as the best known or that can be part of our daily lives.
As we mentioned above, these insects differ in their dimensions, so that there are different large moths that are eventually designated as macroheteroceras.
Among the types of large or giant moths we can mention:
- Atlas moth (Attacus atlas): it is one of the largest, it is distributed specifically in Asia and its wingspan is around 25 cm.
- Hercules moth (Coscinocera hercules): Endemic to Australia and New Guinea, it has a wingspan of about 27 cm.
- White witch moth (Thysania agrippina): because its wingspan reaches around 30 cm, it is usually considered the insect larger, although other moths may have larger wing area. Its range in South America is wide, extending to Mexico.
Types of small moths
Another type of these lepidoptera are the small moths, sometimes referred to as microheteróceras. Some examples are:
- Twenty-feathered moth (Alucita hexadactyla): native to Eurasia, typical of gardens, with a wingspan of about 24 mm.
- Peppermint moth (Pyrausta aurata): with a wide distribution in Africa, Asia and Europe. It is a small moth whose wings do not exceed 20 mm.
- Pygmy sorrel moth (Enteucha acetosae): it is native to certain regions of Europe and is considered to be one of the smallest moths that exist, since the wingspan is about 4 mm.
Types of Wood Moths
Some moths in their larval stage, although they can also feed on other parts of plants, do so on the trunk or even on materials made of wood, which is why they are known as wood moths. Let us know some more characteristic examples of this type:
- Goat moth or drill moth (Cossus cossus): has a distribution range that includes Asia, Africa and Europe. The caterpillars feed on the trunk of small, medium-sized trees such as pears and large trees such as hazelnuts (Corylus), among many others.
- Carpenter moth (Prionoxystus robiniae): it is distributed in Canada and the United States. The larvae create tunnels in the trunks as they feed on them, in trees such as oak, carob, chestnut and willow, among others.
- Witch larva or witch worm: is the common name of the caterpillar of the species Endoxyla leucomochla, endemic to Australia, and it feeds in tunnels that it opens in the roots of certain shrubs to obtain its nutrients.
Types of clothes moths
Various species of moths live in cities or urban areas, some have penetrated our homes and have made clothing and certain upholstery made with natural fabrics their food source. For this reason, this type of moth is known as "clothes moth".
Some common examples of so-called clothes moths are:
- Common Clothes Moth (Tineola bisselliella): originally belonged to the Palearctic, but has now been introduced to many other regions, where it is even considered a pest. It feeds on various fabrics of natural origin, such as wool, although it can eat other fibers and even certain homemade foods.
- Carpet moth (Trichophaga tapetzella): distributed worldwide, its larvae feed on plant tissue fibers, animal skin, floors or upholstery, among others.
- Case holder moth (Tinea pellionella): it is a cosmopolitan species, commonly present in homes, where it feeds on plant, animal and, feathers and spider webs, among others.
As you can see, not all types of moth feed on the same foods. Therefore, if you want to continue learning about the varied diet of moths, do not miss this other article: "What do moths eat?".
Other types of moths
We have seen that the diversity of these lepidoptera is very vast, however, we want to mention some more examples of moths so that you can learn even more about how varied this group is:
- Flightless moth or grasshopper (Areniscythris brachypteris): it has very small wings, so it does not fly.
- Flower moths (Scythrididae): these are species associated with flowering plants, feeding on them and their buds.
- Carrion moths (Blastobasidae): which can feed on decomposing matter.
- Grass Moths (Crambidae): They are able to camouflage themselves very well on the stems of grasses.
- Agricultural impact moths (Tortricidae): here we find various species that damage different plants of food interest, such as apples, peaches, corn, peas, grapes, among others.
- Archaic moths (Micropterigidae): corresponds to a family of moths that, unlike the rest, keep their jaws when they are adults.
- Swift or ghost moths (Hepialidae): its name derives from the peculiarity and speed of courtship for reproduction.
- Poisonous moth (Megalopyge opercularis): it is a species whose larva is known as fire caterpillar due to the presence of apparent thorns, which are really hairs with a toxic substance, which causes serious problems in the affected person.
- Wax moth (Galleria mellonella): characterized by parasitizing bee hives.
- Death's Head Moths (Acherontia): these are three species within the genus, which have a pattern on their thorax similar to a human skull, so they have been incorporated into certain legends in popular culture.
Other examples of moths:
- Moon Moth (Actias luna)
- Fat moth (Aglossa cuprina)
- Lesser wax moth (Achroia grisella)
- Giant Peacock Moth (Saturnia pyri)
- Birch moth (Biston betularia)
- Domestic silk moth (Bombyx mori)
- Virginia tiger moth (Spilosoma virginica)
- Potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella)
- Indian flour moth (Plodia interpunctella)
- Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti)
