Moth - Moth

Japanese: ガ(蛾) - ガ

A common name for insects belonging to the order Lepidoptera other than butterflies. There are tens of thousands of species worldwide, and about 5,000 species in Japan. At first glance, butterflies and moths seem to have clear differences, but they cannot be clearly distinguished. If we had to say, butterflies have antennae that are swollen at the end and have no protrusions, lack talons on their hind wings, and are diurnal flying insects that close their wings when at rest. Moths have antennae that are thread-like, comb-like, or branch-like and do not swell at the tip. They have talons on their hind wings that connect the front and rear wings, and are mostly active at night. They also differ in that they spread their wings when at rest, but there are always exceptions to each. Their larvae are what we call caterpillars, hairy caterpillars, and caterpillars, and most of them eat plant leaves and stems. Many are pests in agriculture and forestry, but there are also beneficial insects such as silkworms. Many species make cocoons and pupate inside them. Adults generally come to lights. It is believed that the scales are poisonous, but this is incorrect.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

鱗翅(りんし)目に属する昆虫でチョウ以外のものの通称。全世界に数万種，日本にも約5000種を産する。チョウとガは一見明瞭な相違があるように見えるが，はっきり区別はできない。しいていえばチョウは触角が末端部で膨大して突起がなく，後翅に抱きとげを欠き，昼飛性で静止するときには翅を閉じる。ガは触角が糸状，くし状，枝状をなして先端は膨大しない。前後翅を連結する抱きとげを後翅にもち，多く夜間活動する。また静止するときは翅を広げるなどの点が異なるが，どれにも必ず例外がある。幼虫はいわゆる青虫，毛虫，芋虫で，大部分は植物の葉や茎を食べる。農業，林業上の害虫も多いが，カイコのような益虫もある。多くの種類は繭を作ってその中で蛹化(ようか)。成虫は一般によく灯火にくる。鱗粉は有毒と信じられているが，誤り。

出典　株式会社平凡社百科事典マイペディアについて　情報

<<: He Yan

>>: Carr, Edward Hallett