Moths, also known as moths, eat different foods at all stages of their lives.
At the larval stage, they do not have the same mobility as adults, which is why they live in the crowns of trees so that they can eat leaves.
Depending on the type of moth, the type of leaves their larvae will eat depends on the type of leaves, for example, the common oak moth feeds on oak leaves, and the Cherry Dagger species prefers to raise its larvae in the crowns of cherry trees.
Moth larvae have a peculiarity: they need to constantly chew something, so when there are no plant leaves, they begin to eat those things that are nearby, these are hair, wool, fur, etc.
The food preferences of adult butterflies, like those of larvae, depend on the specific species. To summarize, they feed on nectar and fruit juice. Adult butterflies cannot chew; they can only process liquid food.
Some species of moths in the butterfly state may not eat at all; they use the energy accumulated during their stay in the larval state.
Let's take a closer look at what some types of moths eat.
African moon moth (Argema mimosae)
What do caterpillars eat?
Most caterpillars are phytophagous - they feed on leaves, flowers and fruits of various, mainly flowering, and less often coniferous, plants.
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What to feed in summer?
What do moths living in captivity eat during the warm season? Oddly enough, slightly rotten fruits are a delicacy for these beautiful insects. Just remember that this product must be served washed and peeled. Otherwise, it can cause harm to pets due to the content of chemicals on the surface of the fruit, used by humans for the purpose of better preservation and transportability.
Butterflies will enjoy the blackened pulp from which they suck the juice, which is an important supplier of sugar, water and other nutrients.
The most suitable gifts for winged pets are:
- bananas;
- oranges;
- apples;
- melons;
- mango;
- watermelons.
Bananas
Important! For each feeding, butterflies need to prepare a fresh portion of fruit.
What does a gypsy moth eat?
The gypsy moth (Gypsy moth Lymantria dispar) eats young leaves of a wide variety of trees. These are mainly apple trees, aspen, willow, birch, pine, spruce, maple and oak. As they grow older, they begin to eat all the leaves in a row.
They are a garden pest because they interfere with the normal development of garden trees, which is why gardeners fight them regularly. But due to the fact that they can lay their eggs in huge numbers, measures to combat them are usually useless.
Clothes moth, photo mhking/iNaturallist
Amazing metamorphoses
Many people remember from school that the life of a butterfly is divided into four stages: egg, larva, caterpillar and moth. Moreover, this amazing creature consumes the largest amount of food in the form of a caterpillar. What do we know about this immature butterfly metamorphosis? What do young caterpillars eat?
To be honest, these creatures can eat almost all types of plant foods. For example, the same tree leaves, fruits or berries. In general, there are no restrictions, although each butterfly species has its own preferences. They depend on the habitat, as well as on the abundance of flora that reigns there.
Content nuances
We’ve figured out what butterflies eat, now let’s talk about how to keep this exotic insect at home.
First, she needs a home. It should not fly freely around the apartment, so you will have to equip or purchase a special insectarium.
Secondly, it is necessary to maintain a suitable microclimate. They love warmth and at any sign of cold they immediately hibernate. The optimal temperature for their existence is 23-28 degrees Celsius.
We recommend reading: “What do lizards eat”
Thirdly, the level of humidity is no less important. In dry air the butterfly will die very quickly. To increase humidity, spray the apartment or insectarium with water from a spray bottle. Don't be afraid if droplets get on an insect. It's even useful. This procedure should be carried out 1-2 times a day.
Fourthly, they pay special attention to their sleeping place. If you don’t have an insectarium and they just live in an apartment, then most likely the insects will spend the night on curtains or on indoor plants. If pets live in an insectarium, then you will need to build a resting place for them.
Twigs are perfect. They need to be laid out so that the butterfly can sit down comfortably (they sleep while sitting).
Diet of domestic butterflies
They are often kept as pets. Moreover, keeping butterflies is not such a difficult task if you raise an omnivorous insect. Certain species of butterflies are very picky eaters and feed on certain nectar from certain plants. These pets are not suitable for home keeping.
In summer, insects can be fed with flower leaves, pollen, etc. But in winter they will have to prepare nectar. To do this you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 tsp. water;
- 1/5 tsp. honey
Take a container and pour water into it. Add honey and stir everything thoroughly. We feed this solution to insects.
You can also make pastes from fruits such as bananas, apples, oranges, pears, etc.
What do they eat in winter?
In the cold season, the basis of the diet of moths is honey nectar, which is easy to prepare yourself. It is enough to take boiled water without impurities and natural honey or granulated sugar in a ratio of 1x10. An overly concentrated solution has a detrimental effect on the butterfly’s digestive system due to sugar crystallization.
Such food should not be left for more than a day, as it tends to sour. If necessary, honey can be replaced with pear, apricot or peach puree for baby food.
What does a meadow moth look like?
The meadow moth is a moth. This is a small insect of gray-brown color, with a wingspan of 18 to 26 mm. The wings have a pattern of yellow stripes. The insect is a dangerous pest, affecting a large number of agricultural plants.
Reproduction nuances
After mating, the female lays eggs. During its life, a butterfly can lay up to 600 eggs. The laying is done on the underside of the leaves of the food plant. After 2–15 days, caterpillars emerge from the eggs. They immediately start eating and grow quickly. The caterpillar stage lasts from 10 to 30 days, after which the larva burrows into the ground and pupates. The insect spends from 7 to 35 days in the cocoon, and then the meadow moth is born.
Maliciousness
Meadow moth caterpillars feed on both cultivated and wild plants and weeds. Voracious pests cause damage to crops such as:
- sugar beet;
- buckwheat;
- alfalfa;
- perennial legumes;
- corn;
- peas;
- sunflower;
- potato;
- barley;
- wheat, etc.
Meadow moth caterpillar
With extensive infestation, the larvae can destroy the entire crop.
How to fight a moth?
Measures to combat the meadow moth differ little from methods of getting rid of other pests and include:
- agrotechnical measures (digging soil in autumn and early spring, removing weeds, hilling);
- biological methods (use of trichograms and biological products);
- chemical methods (use of insecticides).
You can add to the main control measures the manual collection of caterpillars and the use of folk remedies.
Eating at home
Keeping butterflies at home is quite common, especially in Western countries. However, it is important to know the basic rules for caring for these exotic creatures. It is necessary to pay attention to such an aspect as proper feeding of colorful beauties.
What to feed
The diet of butterflies at home is virtually no different from food in the wild. However, in order to avoid diseases, the insect should not be fed with what was brought from the forest or garden. The most favorite food of these creatures is pre-prepared nectar based on honey. Butterflies eat it willingly, so it is better to give preference to food based on honey. They do not disdain rotten fruits, such as mangoes or bananas.
How often
After the final metamorphosis, feeding is done on the second day. The frequency of feeding depends on the type of insect. Daytime ones eat frequently and are fed every 3 hours. Night people have a different schedule; once a day is enough for them.
Butterfly activity also plays a small role. If the butterfly is at rest, disturb it for the purpose of feeding, in this case it should be once every 1-1.5 days.
Artificial feeding
Above, it was discussed what and how to feed a butterfly at home, but it is important to know what to do in emergency situations. Artificial feeding is necessary if the insect deliberately refuses to eat.
You must follow this algorithm:
- carefully remove the butterfly from the terrarium using a thin needle;
- using extreme caution, try to unwind the proboscis;
- Immerse the end of the proboscis in honey nectar.
These procedures should be carried out over several days, after which the butterfly begins to feed on its own as soon as it is near the container.
Description and appearance
The family of moths is very numerous and includes many species. In essence, a moth is the same butterfly, but nocturnal individuals differ from daytime ones in the time they are awake and slightly in their appearance.
Night butterflies have a massive, dense body, which is abundantly covered with villi, while day butterflies have a more slender, elongated body, and there are noticeably fewer villi. The moth's head is round, containing eyes, a proboscis (sometimes atrophied), and antennae (usually feathery or filamentous). There are three pairs of legs on the chest. Two pairs of wings, with the upper ones noticeably better developed. You can distinguish a night moth by the color of its wings - it is duller, inconspicuous, and dark shades predominate.
Butterfly
Main differences between moths and butterflies
In general, all representatives of the order Lepidoptera are very similar in body structure, appearance and lifestyle. But there are still a number of main differences between butterflies and moths:
- thickness and structure of the antennae;
- body shape and the presence of villi on it;
- activity at different times of the day;
- brightness of wing color;
- appearance of pupae and caterpillars;
- a way to fold the wings while resting.
All of the above differences are typical for most species of moths and butterflies, but, as you know, there are exceptions to any rule.
For example, the Saturnia luna moth boasts a bright light green or lavender color, and members of the moth family fold their wings vertically.
Anyone who wants to get to know butterflies better should come here.
