Gardening for Moths
A Regional Guide

Jim McCormac (Author), Chelsea Gottfried (Author)

9780821425206

Paperback / softback, published 28 March 2023

280 pages
25.4 x 17.8 x 1.7 cm, 0.744 kg

"We love our beautiful butterflies, but we could love our moths, too, if we fully appreciated their essential role in nature. Moths and their caterpillars transfer more energy from plants to other animals than any other herbivores. A landscape without moths is a landscape without birds and many other animals. In Gardening for Moths, Jim McCormac and Chelsea Gottfried tell us how to bring these wonderful creatures into our landscapes and into our lives."

This guide to moths, native plants, and their environmental roles is an indispensable resource for gardeners, conservationists, and nature enthusiasts across the midwestern United States.
Gardening for Moths is the first book to show midwestern gardeners and naturalists why they should attract specific moth species to their properties and how to do it. The book's stunning color photographs and intriguing facts reveal the fascinating world of these insects, inspiring readers to incorporate moth-loving native plants into their landscapes. The authors emphasize the importance of moths and their caterpillars to ecological food webs, widening the book's appeal to birders and bat lovers as well.
The book consists of three main sections, beginning with a thorough overview of moths, including their
population decline and conservation,
importance in ecosystems,
relationship with native plants, and
predators and defenses
In addition, this first section features tips on how to attract and photograph moths at night.
In the next section the authors profile about 140 plant species, providing brief background, natural history, habitat, and growing notes for each along with lists of potential moths the plants may attract.
The third section highlights approximately 150 moth species, ordered taxonomically. These accounts include interesting facts about the life history of both the caterpillar and adult moth of each species. Each account also features a list of the species' common host plants.
Throughout the volume, inset text boxes provide additional fascinating moth facts. Beautiful photographs (most by the authors) illustrate every included plant and moth species. Select references, online resources, and quick reference tables round out this valuable resource.

Introduction 1
Moths-History, Folklore, Importance, Conservation, Observation
Recommended Moth Plants 37
Moth Profiles 129
Acknowledgments 243
Appendix 245
Recommended Host Plant Quick Reference Lists
Glossary 249
Resources 253
Sources 255
Image Credits 257
Index 261