This article was also featured in our February 03, 2021 issue of Now in Nature.
It’s no secret that humans love sweet maple sap, but if you peek under the pail lids, you’ll likely find at least one other species taking advantage of this plentiful sugar. A brown, fluffy moth is taking a swim in the sap!
While most insects lay low in the winter, these moths keep warm with a built-in jacket: a series of insulating air sacs in their body. When even this doesn’t keep the cold out, these moths will shiver to stay warm!
All of these fancy adaptations require fuel, so the moths gorge themselves full to bursting with sugary sap. These big meals will keep them fed for three days! Take a peek in our sap pails during our Maple Sugaring Hikes to see if you can spot one of these amazing moths!
