Bright Side of the Night – 2.2.8

Plants

Plants carry out photosynthesis and generate energy with the help of sunlight. They need the dark night for regeneration processes. Plants also use light as an external timer. They respond to the cycles of day and night, the seasons, and the moon. Low light intensity initiates developmental processes in plants. High light intensity triggers stress and protective responses.

Moth Plants

Many plants that rely on nocturnal pollinators are characterized by their tantalizing fragrance and brilliant flower colours.[1] Observations show that moths tend to be attracted to bright flowers. The scent and flower colour help moths find their way. The colours white, yellow, pale purple, and all colours with a strong UV reflection are best seen. Night-flowering plants don’t just attract moths but also bats, which feed on the insects. The Fence Bindweed (Calystegia sepium), the Common Night Violet (Hesperis matronalis) and European Pipeviolet (Philadelphus coronarius) are examples of such moth plants.[2]

Common Evening Primrose

The common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is originally native to North America. It was brought to Europe as an ornamental plant and has spread widely. At dusk, its flowers open in a flowing motion over the course of just a few minutes. The suddenness and speed observed is unique in the flora of Central Europe. Once they bloom, moths like the medium vine hawk moth (Deilephila elpenor) can sense the intense scent. Immediately after the flowers have opened, the anthers ripen, so pollen sticks to the beaks of the visiting moths. About half an hour after the flower’s opening, the stigma branches unfold. Now, the flowers can be pollinated by other visiting insects. Primroses bloom all night long, until about midday the following day. The roots, leaves, flowers and seeds of the plant are edible. In natural medicine, the common evening primrose is used as a remedy for skin diseases, asthma, or migraine.

References

[1] Raguso, R. A., & Willis, M. A. (2005). Synergy between visual and olfactory cues in nectar feeding by wild hawkmoths, Manduca sexta. Animal Behaviour, 69(2), 407–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.04.015

[2] Brochure “Night in the Nature Parks of Luxembourg”

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Medium vine hawk moth on common evening primrose -Image by PommeGrenade – Pixabay.

*Bladder Campion – Image by Hans – Pixabay.*

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Science magazine: Robotic flowers show how moths see at night