Darwin's Moths
8 images Created 17 Jun 2021
Nocturnal moths nectaring on Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha). Including Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus) and The Shark moth (Cucullia umbratica). Both moths collect sticky 'pollinia' on their faces as they drink, which helps to pollinate the orchids. West Sussex, UK.
The co-evolution of plants and their pollinators was famously studied by Charles Darwin. In 1862 he predicted the existence of a moth with a proboscis far longer than any known at that time, which would be required to pollinate a Madagascan orchid with an extraordinarily long 'nectary' feature. Only in 1992 was video and photographic evidence of this moth feeding and transferring pollen finally captured.
The co-evolution of plants and their pollinators was famously studied by Charles Darwin. In 1862 he predicted the existence of a moth with a proboscis far longer than any known at that time, which would be required to pollinate a Madagascan orchid with an extraordinarily long 'nectary' feature. Only in 1992 was video and photographic evidence of this moth feeding and transferring pollen finally captured.
