Imagine a simple fact: protecting moths means protecting a crucial part of our gardenâs health. As spring returns and leaves the garden buzzing with life, many gardeners battle caterpillars chewing through cabbages. Yet a growing chorus from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and The Wildlife Trusts asks Britons to rethink caterpillar carnage, not to wipe it out, but to nurture it so mothsâthe next generation of many garden residentsâcan thrive.
For prized plants, the RHS favors a pesticide-free strategy. This includes hands-on removal, physical barriers, and pruning to keep plants sturdy while letting caterpillars do their job without harsh chemicals.
Moth populations are in sharp decline. The charities warn that roughly 2,500 UK species are at risk, with numbers having fallen about 33% since the 1960s. Causes? Habitat loss, climate change, and pollution all play a part.
Helen Bostock, a senior wildlife expert at the RHS, explains why this shift matters: moths have long lived in the shadow of butterflies in gardens, but understanding their needsâand those hungry caterpillarsâcan support their recovery and boost overall garden biodiversity. Moths arenât just interesting in their own right; theyâre a vital food source for other vulnerable wildlifeâbirds, mammals, and larger insectsâhelping the whole garden food web.
Some caterpillars roam voraciously, while others are specialists. The RHS urges gardeners to appreciate these caterpillars, noting that some are large, green, and easy to spot, while others are masters of camouflage, resembling twigs, bark, or even bird droppings.
When they metamorphose, they become striking moths, such as the pink and green elephant hawk moth, the lunar hornet moth that mimics a wasp, and the Jersey tiger moth, which now appears more frequently in red, cream, and black as the climate warms.
Caterpillars require substantial energy to become moths. The RHS suggests gardeners allow a degree of nibbling on ornamentals and vegetables to support this transformation.
The charities also recommend planting native trees and shrubs that offer sustenance to a wide range of caterpillars. Good options include willow, honeysuckle, foxglove, Verbascum, comfrey, marjoram, bedstraw, sweet William, sweet rocket, tobacco plant, jasmine, and white campion.
Vicki Hird, an insect expert with The Wildlife Trusts, adds color to the picture: moths are remarkableânames aside, theyâre visually stunning. The green, black, and white Merveille du Jour looks like it was painted by an artist, while the white ermine wears a black-spotted cloak. The French even call moths the âbutterflies of the night.â Even small brown moths can boast intricate patterns. A simple moth trap lets you observe these creatures up close before releasing them back into the wild.
Caterpillar-friendly planting options
- Foxgloves: favored by several moths, including the lesser yellow underwing (Noctua comes), angle shades (Phlogophora meticulosa), and the setaceous Hebrew character (Xestia c-nigrum).
- Ladyâs bedstraw: this native wildflower with frothy yellow blooms feeds the hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), elephant hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor), and bedstraw hawk-moth (Hyles gallii).
- Mullein: tall, drought-tolerant yellow blooms provide for the mullein mothâs brightly striped caterpillars (Cucullia verbasci).
- Mint: supports the mint moth and the beautiful plume moth, and is also a boon for bees.
- Hedges: with space, a mixed native hedge of hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, and dog rose offers fodder for a wide array of caterpillars.
A broader point to consider is how our gardening choices ripple through ecosystems. If you adopt caterpillar-friendly practices, youâre not just protecting mothsâyouâre supporting pollination cycles, pest control players, and songbirds that rely on caterpillars for food.
Would you be willing to adjust your garden routine to welcome moths and their caterpillars, even if it means tolerating a bit more nibbling on some plants? How might your garden look after a season of native shrubs, careful monitoring, and a few intentional caterpillar-safe tweaks? Share your experiences and questions in the comments.
