The Moth Who Flapped her Wings
How conversations with my daughter help me learn about nature
My children are the greatest conduit to Mother Nature that I have ever known. They constantly ask questions that I don’t know the answer to. My response? I don’t know. Let’s see if we can find out…
Today’s question happened after my daughter announced that she had found a moth trapped inside the house. She described how she had carefully cupped her hands around it and carried it out to a plant, but it hadn’t wanted to leave her hands. She persisted and eventually she left it on a Native Thyme plant in a pot. She told me excitedly that it was one of the ones that “has eyes on its wings”. I asked her why she might think that was. Miss 7 years old rolled her eyes and responded, “To scare away predators. I remember you telling me that!”
She proceeded to try to find it again. After a few minutes… success! “Look Mummy, it keeps flapping its wings but it’s not flying! Why is it doing that?”
I don’t know. Let’s see if we can find out.
She looks over my shoulder as I open google and type the question. The answer? Moths flap their wings to keep up their body temperature in cooler weather so that they are ready for flight! Wow! I didn’t know that! Neither did her father.
Once again the conduit to Mother Nature, aka my daughter, has expanded our view of the natural world.
Reference: https://animalcorner.org/animals/moth/
