Moth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Moth - Essay Example This is an extremely large family of moths with an estimated 35,000 species. However, several geometers are known to be terrible pests. The caterpillars, known as loopers, inchworms or spanworms, feed on plants while some species are even carnivorous (‘Looper’, 2012). The family Noctuidae, or the owlet moths, are not only numerous in species but also robust – and they are the largest family. They have hind wings of bright colors. They are usually flying at night. They also invade flowers as many are attracted to sugar and nectar. Moreover, their larvae are crop pests (‘Cutworm Moth’, 2012). The family Cambridae is colored and patterned moths characterized by a special structure in the ears known as â€Å"praecinctorium,† which is responsible for joining the two tympanic membranes of the ears. The harmful Cambrid moth, or Grass Moth, has larvae which are typical stem borers of many important crops (‘Grass Moth’, 2012). ... The so-called tunnel moths make a silk lined tunnel and that during night time or winter, the caterpillar of the tunnel moth gathers grass foliage and drags them back into their tunnels. The caterpillars are very small and may be quote difficult to notice for they measure around 35 mm long only and 3 mm across (‘New pasture pest’, 2010). Pasture tunnel moths usually live in areas with higher rainfall, and they can cause significant damage to clovers, as well as annual and perennial grasses. The larvae are usually grey-colored in their bodies with black heads. The adult moth, on the other hand, is long and has a creamy-white color. The pasture tunnel moth usually cause the greatest damage during the months of July and August, during the rainy months, for rain has a great factors in stimulating this species of moth to feed more (‘Pasture tunnel moth’, 2009). Moreover, the pasture tunnel moth affects cereal crops (Perry et al., 2011). The first time that Philob ota species were identified in New Zealand was in February 2010 at the Ruakura Research Center in Hamilton, New Zealand. The migrant species are actually native to Australia, of which there are around 400 species, and where a number of these species are regarded as â€Å"minor pests of pasture† because it merely feeds on grass such as tall fescue trials and perennial ryegrass (Popay & Gunawardana, 2011). In case a New Zealand resident sees pasture tunnel moths, they should immediately contact MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (‘New pasture pest’, 2010). Based on the table below from the Asia & Pacific Plant Commission Protection, the first sighting of Philobota species in New Zealand was in 2010, and it was perhaps through the wind that