The Night Shift: Moths as Nocturnal Pollinators
The work of pollination is never over-even after dark! While some flowers close when the sun goes down, most flowers are still accessible at night. When our day-active (diurnal) pollinators turn in for the evening, nocturnal pollinators such as moths, bats, beetles, and even some species of bees take on the night shift to feast on nectar. We are just beginning to understand the importance of these nocturnal flower visitors for pollination of wild and managed plants.
UCL researchers observed a diverse assemblage of moths transporting pollen from many different plant species under cover of darkness, including some flowers that are not often visited by bees. The study suggested that moths are better at pollinating than previously thought
The flowers of some plants open in the evening and become more fragrant at night, luring in moths, which depend on scent to find food (and mates). These flowers also tend to be white or pale in color to reflect moonlight, allowing them to be easily seen at a distance by nocturnal pollinators.
Both day- and night-active pollinators face many threats, including habitat loss, pesticide exposure, disease, and invasive species. But one hazard unique to nocturnal pollinators is light pollution. Artificial lights disorient moths, and research has found this can impair finding mates, evading predators, and pollinating plants. A recent study found that nocturnal visits to plants was reduced by 62 percent in areas with artificial illumination compared to dark areas.