Although many people overlook them, moths are numerous and widespread, with over 2,500 species in Britain living in a wide range of habitats. They are a major part of our biodiversity and play vital roles in the ecosystem, affecting many other types of wildlife. Eyed Hawk-moth caterpillar (Mark Parsons). read more
Moths have a bad rep as being dull, drab pests, but these insects are fascinatingly diverse, from the huge Atlas moth to the caterpillars people eat! read more
While adult moths are pollinators and allies of plants, their larvae are not. Many moth species are pests, meaning they eat plants humans like. Examples include the coddling moth, diamondback moth, and the politically-incorrectly-named gypsy moth. Ask a farmer about these. read more
Both adult moths and their caterpillars are food for a wide variety of wildlife, including other insects, spiders, frogs, toads, lizards, shrews, hedgehogs, bats and birds. Night-flying adult moths form a major part of the diet of bats. read more
Moths can range in size from smaller than a pencil tip to bigger than a songbird. The Atlas Moth, of Southeast Asia, considered the largest in the world, has a wingspan of nearly a foot (30 centimeters) — more than that of a Baltimore oriole. read more