Did you know that there are approximately 10 times more moth species worldwide than there are butterfly species? Or that without moths we would have fewer songbirds, less genetic diversity in many of our native plants, and lower harvests of many popular fruits? Or that creating better moth habitats around our homes also benefits our health and wellbeing?

Dr. Elena Tartaglia shares her love of moths, some of the key roles they play in the ecosystem, how helping moths also helps us, and much more. Elena is a co-founder of National Moth Week and a Research Associate at Rutgers University.

The full transcript of this episode can be found on the episode’s webpage: https://www.backyardecology.net/moths-unsung-heroes-of-pollination-and-beyond/

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National Moth Week links:

• Website: https://nationalmothweek.org/
• Moth Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NationalMothWeek/
• Caterpillar Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NationalMothWeekCaterpillars/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mothweek/?hl=en

Other episode links:

• Elena’s email: [email protected]
• iNaturalist: https://inaturalist.org/
• Jersey Yards: https://www.jerseyyards.org/
• Dark Sky Association: https://www.darksky.org/
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar*: https://amzn.to/3PMYAJE
• Nature's Best Hope*: https://amzn.to/3lrao7r
• Light Pollution and Its Impacts on Birds and Other Wildlife: https://www.backyardecology.net/light-pollution-and-its-impacts-on-birds-and-other-wildlife/
• Caterpillar hunting with a UV flashlight: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335025908_Caterpillar_hunting_with_a_UV_flashlight/link/5d4b2c5492851cd046a6f6d6/download

* Amazon links are affiliate links. 

Backyard Ecology links:

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• IO moth, Photo credit: lightbed, cc-0