A moth is a flying insect related to butterflies, usually active at night and often attracted to light. Some moths have caterpillars that eat fabric or crops.
From Old English *moþþe*, related to Dutch *mot* and German *Motte*. The word has long been associated with insects that damage cloth and stored goods.
We often think of moths as “ugly butterflies,” but there are many more species of moths than butterflies. Some moths are incredibly colorful and important pollinators at night. The whole “eaten by moths” idea is so old it even shows up in ancient religious texts.
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