Night-Flying Moths
A diverse group of moths that pollinate evening and night-blooming flowers. Collectively as important as bees for certain plant families, and a vital food source for bats and birds.
Why you want them
Night-flying moths as a group pollinate a significant proportion of flowers that are overlooked by daytime pollinators. Many white, pale, and strongly scented flowers have evolved specifically to attract moths after dark. Research has shown that moths visit as many different plant species at night as bees do during the day. They are also the primary prey of bats, and indirectly support the entire nocturnal wildlife food web in the garden.
How to attract them
- Evening primrose
- Night-scented stock
- White campion
- Tobacco plant
- Jasmine
- Sweet rocket
- Soapwort
- Honeysuckle
Preferred habitat
Anywhere with diverse vegetation, rough grassland, hedgerows, and gardens with pale night-blooming flowers. Adults rest camouflaged on bark, lichen, or leaf litter during the day.
What harms them
Light pollution (artificial lighting at night), pesticides, loss of caterpillar host plants, and over-tidy gardens that remove sheltering and pupation sites.
Garden, by Willowbottom works with nature, not against it. Support your garden allies and they will do most of the hard work for you.