Moths play a crucial role in the ecosystem, and their ecological significance includes:
Pollination
Moths pollinate flowers while feeding on nectar, which helps plants produce seeds and benefits wild plants and crops. Moths are responsible for a third of all pollination in flowering plants, crops, and trees.
Food chain
Moths are part of the food chain, and adult moths are food for many types of wildlife.
Early warning signals
When moth populations drop, it can be an early warning sign that the ecosystem is in trouble.
Ecosystem stability
Moths are important components of food webs in all terrestrial ecosystems, contributing to network complexity, interaction diversity, and ecosystem stability.
However, moth populations have been declining by 33% in the last 50 years. Some reasons for this include:
Loss of habitats
Changes in garden management
Pesticides
Herbicides
Light pollution
Climate change