Moths are nocturnal flying insects with mostly feathery antennae, a stouter body, duller coloring, and smaller wings than the related butterfly.Mostly all species of moth larvae and adult moths eat plants and plant material such as nectar, plant fluids, tree sap, honeydew, juices, and liquids of decaying flowers and fruits. These plant matters are their primary food sources.The moth life cycle consists of four stages; egg, larva (also known as a caterpillar), pupa (also known as chrysalis), and adult (also known as imago). Moths are found in different sizes, varying in wingspan from about 0.16 in (4 mm) to around 1 ft (30.48 cm). Moths are highly adaptive insects. There are approximately 160,000 species, and types of moths found worldwide except in the polar regions.Moths and butterflies may appear similar, but they differ in a few aspects. Moths are nocturnal insects meaning that they are active and feed in the nighttime, while butterflies are diurnal, meaning they feed during the daytime. Moths sleep with their wings open, whereas butterflies keep theirs closed. Butterflies have bright colors and long, thin, sleek antennae, whereas moths have duller hues and feathery, thick, short antennae. Their antennae have a remarkable sense of smell (olfactory senses), which enable them to feed on the flowers that blossom at night.Do you find this article on moths interesting? Give a read to these fun fact animal articles on what do rhinos eat and what do iguanas eat here on Kidadl.What do clothes moths eat?An adult moth typically feeds on nectar, liquids, and juices from flowers and fruits. Their diet includes plant fluids, sap, honeydew, and decaying flowers and fruits to strengthen their wings. It also feeds on mud, manure, and animal feces as these substances provide it with protein and other minerals. The adult moth eats food rich in sugars, proteins, and minerals that help them gain energy for flying and reproduction.Some moths have a limited appetite and do not frequently eat in maturity. Other moth species do not eat anything in their adult phase; instead, they use the energy obtained during the larvae stage. The energy absorbed from feeding on excessive food as larvae sustains them to mate and lay eggs during the adult stage of their life cycle.Clothes moths are tiny beige-colored moths. They have slender wings fringed with tiny fleece hairs. They look pretty similar to grain moths spotted in many pantries and kitchens. You may not notice the clothes moths as they prefer to stay in dark, undisturbed areas like closets, attics, and basements. The two most common clothes moths are the case-bearing clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) and the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella).The adult webbing clothes moth and case-bearing clothes moth are almost similar in appearance. The adults of these clothes moths do not feed; therefore, they do not cause any damage to fabrics. They only reproduce in the adult phase. The adult clothes moths lay around 40-50 eggs which hatch into fabric-eating larvae. Though people often assume that the adult clothes moths ruin and eat clothes, they lack the mouthparts to chew on the fabric thread found in materials like wool and cotton. In reality, it is the larvae of the clothes moth that destroy fabrics and other materials; therefore, the larvae eat clothes.The larvae of clothes moths primarily feed on natural and animal-based fibers such as cotton, linen, fur, wool, felt, feather, silk, and leather. These animal fabrics consist of a fibrous protein called keratin that the clothes moths larvae can digest. These pests rarely ruin synthetic fabrics like rayon and polyester unless blended with wool or other natural fibers. Irreparable harm can be caused to fabrics and other materials by infestations of clothes moths larvae.It isn’t easy to spot clothes moth larvae in the items of clothing. The case-bearing clothes moth larva, during its pupal stage, spins a case using the fibers it consumes (such as wool or felt), creating a camouflage that makes it next to impossible to spot. Webbing moths are comparatively easier to notice as their webs can often be detected with the naked eye.Do moths eat leaves?Adult moths do not eat leaves. They generally consume less and primarily feed on nectar and fluids from fruits and flowers to sustain themselves. However, moth larvae or caterpillars eat at least one leaf daily, depending on the species.The moth caterpillars eat leaves until they grow large enough to spin a cocoon around themselves to turn into pupae. During the pupal stage, they hibernate and later transform into moths. Moth larvae primarily feed on leaves and leaf matter as they grow to store energy for the process of metamorphosis. If the moth caterpillars do not feed on leaves, they will not have the nutrients necessary to move to the next stage and eventually die of hunger and lack of hydration.Do moths eat plants? Adult moths do not eat plants as their mouthparts are not meant for chewing but just for sucking. They have a tube-like structure called a proboscis which spirals in and out while feeding. This tube acts like a straw to suck in nectar from flowers into the moth’s body. This fluid nectar flows into the moth’s digestive tract, where nutrients are absorbed.Moth larvae generally feed on plants. Every species of moth larvae prefers to feed on a particular plant. Moth larvae usually feed on fruit-bearing plants, flowering plants, and even eat dense crop plants.Leaves, plants, and trees are the primary food sources of larvae as they grow to maturity. Plants also help the larvae to hide from predators. On reaching maturity, moths may often visit the same plant they fed on as larvae to pollinate flowers and drink nectar fluids. The larvae feed on the plants initially, but as they grow to maturity, their feces add nutrition to the soil, which benefits the plants.Moths are beneficial to the environment as they help in the pollination of flowers and also help in seed production. However, there are many predators of moths and moth caterpillars because of their abundance in nature. They are the prey and food source of many species of insects, birds, reptiles, rodents, and other wildlife. In some parts across the world, some species of moths and caterpillars are a significant food source for people. Caterpillars are laden with healthy fats, protein, calcium, zinc, iron, and potassium; hence they are consumed by humans. Most of the moth species used for consumption are not poisonous; however, if the moth or the moth caterpillar has visible hair and spikes on its body, it should not be eaten.Some people also keep moths and moth caterpillars as pets. You can raise in small tanks by creating an artificial habitat and ensuring that they have the proper food and diet. Moths turn out to be good pets as they do not carry any diseases or bite humans. However, they can quickly get loose and cause a mess to your clothing and home if they are not properly contained.How To Keep Moths AwayThere are a few simple ways to get rid of moths before they get a chance to lay their eggs and cause an infestation. The following methods can help you get rid of moths and prevent them from breeding.Moths enjoy dusty, damp, and humid areas. Maintaining cleanliness, utilizing proper storage, and using repellents can help prevent a severe moth infestation. Sweat, body oils, urine, food stains, and any traces of moisture on clothing and materials attract the adult moths; therefore, you must wash your clothes regularly and keep your closet tidy. Wash or dry clean the clothing pieces you wear occasionally or seasonally and store them in sealed plastic bags. Hanging your clothing in the sunshine and fresh air will help rid your home of any moth larvae as they prefer darkness and will fall off your clothes to escape the sunlight.It is necessary to maintain cleanliness at home to prevent a moth infestation. Dusting and vacuuming the cupboard, closet, pantries, furniture, curtains, and doormats will help eliminate any eggs and larvae. After dusting and cleaning, make sure to empty the vacuum bag immediately in the trash to prevent any eggs or larvae from emerging and re-infesting your home. You can spray insect or pest repellants in undisturbed corners and areas in your house.Avoid purchasing food in bulk as it may get contaminated and run the risk of moth infestation if not consumed before the expiration date. It is essential to store grains and other foods in air-tight containers so that they remain pest-free.Moths cannot stand the fragrance of cedar. Therefore, you can use cedar-scented candles, incense sticks, perfume, and decor to keep moths at bay. You can also use mothballs to get rid of moths and larvae. However, mothballs can be toxic to children and pets. Mothballs must be used with caution as they are also flammable. Instead, you can use natural repellents to keep moths away.You can hang sachets filled with lavender, thyme, bay leaves, cardamom, and dried cloves in the closet, living spaces, and pest infestation-prone areas. Fish oil is also a natural moth repellant that can help prevent moth breeding. You can dab a little fish oil on a flypaper sheet and, because of its unpleasant smell, hang it in the basement, attic, or other rarely used areas.You can easily make a moth repellent spray to get rid of moths from your closet, kitchen, pantry, or any place in your home. Pour some water into a glass or plastic bottle sprayer and add 10-15 drops each of the lemon, cedar, and lavender essential oils. Shake the bottle vigorously to mix the concoction. Spritz this spray all over your clothing, carpets, curtains, closet, furniture, and other places once a week to prevent moths. You can also directly sprinkle a small amount of essential oil on your clothing instead of a mist spray. The essential oil will not only prevent moths from breeding but will also leave behind a refreshing fragrance in your clothes and home for several hours.The homemade spray can be used on plants and soil, preventing moth larvae from breeding on the plant’s leaves. You can also use this mist to get rid of other insects and pests in your house. If these natural repellents do not work, you should regularly seek pest control services to ward off moth infestation or other pest infestation, as these insects and pests can do irreparable harm.Adult moths aren’t physically able to bite humans. However, some moths species have spiny and spikey hairs on their body that can penetrate your skin. Their hairs are not poisonous and may not cause significant harm, but they can cause skin reactions leaving itchy rashes and bumpy patches on the skin. Your skin may itch, sting, and burn for some time. If you accidentally ingest the cocoons and feces of the moths, then there is a chance that they could cause you to become sick. Some moth species can even be fatal for humans if consumed directly.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what do moths eat, then why not take a look at what do pigs eat or white-marked tussock moth facts?
Moths are nocturnal flying insects with mostly feathery antennae, a stouter body, duller coloring, and smaller wings than the related butterfly.
