Moths are diverse insects with feeding habits that change significantly throughout their life cycle, showcasing adaptations to various food sources. Understanding what moths consume is important for appreciating their ecological roles.
The Adult Moth Menu
Adult moths primarily feed on liquids, which they typically consume using a long, straw-like mouthpart called a proboscis. Nectar from flowers is a common food source for many adult moths, providing essential sugars for energy needed for flight and reproduction. Moths often play a role in pollinating night-blooming flowers as they seek out nectar.
Beyond nectar, adult moths may also consume other sugary liquids such as tree sap or the juices from ripe or fermenting fruits. Some species are attracted to honeydew, a sugary waste product secreted by aphids, or even animal droppings and bird feces, which can provide minerals like sodium. However, a significant number of adult moth species do not feed at all, relying entirely on energy reserves accumulated during their larval stage. For these non-feeding adults, their brief life is dedicated solely to reproduction.
Caterpillar Cravings: The Larval Diet
Caterpillars are the primary feeding stage for most moths, consuming large quantities of food to grow and store energy for metamorphosis. Caterpillars possess strong chewing mouthparts, unlike the adult moths’ proboscis. Most moth caterpillars are herbivorous, feeding on various parts of plants, including leaves, stems, roots, and even wood. Some caterpillars are generalists, capable of eating a wide range of plant materials, while others are specialists, consuming only specific plant species.
While plant matter forms the bulk of their diet, some moth caterpillars have adapted to consume other substances. Certain species feed on fungi or lichens. Household pests like clothes moth larvae are known for digesting keratin, a protein found in natural fibers such as wool, silk, fur, and feathers, often causing damage to textiles. Pantry moths, on the other hand, infest and feed on stored dry goods like grains, cereals, flour, nuts, and even pet food.
Beyond the Usual: Specialized Moth Diets
Moth diets extend to some unusual and highly specialized feeding behaviors that go beyond typical plant or liquid consumption. For instance, some moth caterpillars are carnivorous, preying on other insects. The larvae of certain Hawaiian Eupithecia moths are known to ambush and feed on other small insects.
Another example of specialized feeding involves moths that consume beeswax. The greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae feed on beeswax, pollen, and even the shed skins of bees within bee colonies. These larvae can also chew through honeycombs, making them a concern for beekeepers.