Editing Lepidoptera (section)

==== Navigation ====
{{main|Animal navigation}}
[[File:Moths attracted by floodlight.jpg|thumb|right|Long exposure image of flying moths, attracted to the floodlights]]

[[Animal navigation|Navigation]] is important to Lepidoptera species, especially for those that migrate. Butterflies, which have more species that migrate, have been shown to navigate using time-compensated sun compasses. They can see [[polarized light]], so can orient even in cloudy conditions. The polarized light in the region close to the ultraviolet spectrum is suggested to be particularly important.<ref name="Saumam">{{Cite journal |last=Sauman |first=Ivo |author2=Adriana D. Briscoe |author3=Haisun Zhu |author4=Dingding Shi |author5=Oren Froy |author6=Julia Stalleicken |author7=Quan Yuan |author8=Amy Casselman |author9=Steven M. Reppert   |date=5 May 2005 |title=Connecting the Navigational Clock to Sun Compass Input in Monarch Butterfly Brain |journal=Neuron |volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=457–467 |doi=10.1016/j.neuron.2005.03.014 |pmid=15882645|s2cid=17755509 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Most migratory butterflies are those that live in semiarid areas where breeding seasons are short.<ref name="Southwood">{{Cite journal |last=Southwood |first=T. R. E. |year=1962 |title=Migration of terrestrial arthropods in relation to habitat |journal=[[Biological Reviews]] |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=171–211 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-185X.1962.tb01609.x|s2cid=84711127 }}</ref> The life histories of their host plants also influence the strategies of the butterflies.<ref name="Dennis">{{Cite journal |last=Dennis |first=Roger L. H.|author2=Tim G. Shreeve |author3=Henry R. Arnold |author4=David B. Roy  |date = September 2005|title=Does diet breadth control herbivorous insect distribution size? Life history and resource outlets for specialist butterflies |journal=Journal of Insect Conservation |volume=9 |issue= 3 |pages=187–200 |doi=10.1007/s10841-005-5660-x|bibcode=2005JICon...9..187D |s2cid=20605146}}</ref> Other theories include the use of landscapes. Lepidoptera may use coastal lines, mountains, and even roads to orient themselves. Above sea, the flight direction is much more accurate if the coast is still visible.<ref name="Made">{{Cite book |last=Made |first=J. G. van der|author2=Josef Blab |author3=Rudi Holzberger |author4=H. van den Bijtel  |title=Actie voor Vlinders, zo kunnen we ze redden. |publisher=Weert: M & P cop. |year=1989 |page=192|isbn=978-90-6590-303-7|language=nl}}</ref>

Many studies have also shown that moths navigate. One study showed that many moths may use the [[Earth's magnetic field]] to navigate, as a study of the [[heart and dart]] moth suggests.<ref name="heart-and-dart">{{Cite journal |last=Baker |first=R. Robin |date = February 1987|title=Integrated use of moon and magnetic compasses by the heart-and-dart moth, ''Agrotis exclamationis'' |journal=Animal Behaviour |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=94–101 |doi=10.1016/S0003-3472(87)80214-2|s2cid=54314728 }}</ref> Another study, of the migratory behavior of the [[silver Y]], showed, even at high altitudes, the species can correct its course with changing winds, and prefers flying with favourable winds, suggesting a great sense of direction.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.gre.ac.uk/pr/articles/2008news/a1537---moths |title=Scientists make compass discovery in migrating moths |last=Breen |first=Amanda |date=7 May 2008 |publisher=University of Greenwich at Medway |page=1 |access-date=9 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530141617/http://www.gre.ac.uk/pr/articles/2008news/a1537---moths |archive-date=30 May 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Chapman">{{Cite journal |last1=Chapman |first1=Jason W. |first2=Don R. |last2=Reynolds |first3=Henrik |last3=Mouritsen |first4=Jane K. |last4=Hill |first5=Joe R. |last5=Riley |first6=Duncan |last6=Sivell |first7=Alan D. |last7=Smith |first8=Ian P. |last8=Woiwod |date=8 April 2008 |title=Wind selection and drift compensation optimize migratory pathways in a high-flying moth |journal=Current Biology |volume=18 |issue=7 |pages=514–518 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2008.02.080 |pmid=18394893 |bibcode=2008CBio...18..514C |s2cid=3236142 |url=https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/download/1b0eb17b2e2cb34d1483a5a45159f6f47d94e99744eb7b325170de28434fbdbd/117278/PIIS096098220800362X.pdf |access-date=11 September 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531114608/https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/download/1b0eb17b2e2cb34d1483a5a45159f6f47d94e99744eb7b325170de28434fbdbd/117278/PIIS096098220800362X.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Aphrissa statira]]'' in [[Panama]] loses its navigational capacity when exposed to a magnetic field, suggesting it uses the Earth's magnetic field.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Srygley |first1=Robert B.|first2=Evandro G. |last2=Oliveira |first3=Andre J. |last3=Riveros  |year=2005 |title=Experimental evidence for a magnetic sense in Neotropical migrating butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) |journal=The British Journal of Animal Behaviour |volume=71 |issue=1 |pages=183–191 |url=http://users.ox.ac.uk/~zool0206/AnimBeh06.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104100719/http://users.ox.ac.uk/~zool0206/AnimBeh06.pdf |archive-date=4 November 2009 |doi=10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.04.013|s2cid=25203050}}</ref>

Moths exhibit a tendency to circle artificial lights repeatedly. This suggests they use a technique of [[celestial navigation]] called [[transverse orientation]]. By maintaining a constant angular relationship to a bright celestial light, such as the [[Moon]], they can fly in a straight line. Celestial objects are so far away, even after traveling great distances, the change in angle between the moth and the light source is negligible; further, the moon will always be in the upper part of the visual field or on the [[horizon]]. When a moth encounters a much closer artificial light and uses it for navigation, the angle changes noticeably after only a short distance, in addition to being often below the horizon. The moth instinctively attempts to correct by turning toward the light, causing airborne moths to come plummeting downwards, and at close range, which results in a spiral flight path that gets closer and closer to the light source.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12903572 |title=Why are Moths Attracted to Flame? (audio) |last1=Elliot |first1=Debbie |first2=May |last2=Berenbaum |date=18 August 2007 |publisher=National Public Radio |page=1 |access-date=12 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108215236/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12903572 |archive-date=8 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other explanations have been suggested, such as the idea that moths may be impaired with a visual distortion called a [[Mach band]] by Henry Hsiao in 1972. He stated that they fly towards the darkest part of the sky in pursuit of safety, thus are inclined to circle ambient objects in the Mach band region.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hsiao |first=Henry S. |title=Attraction of moths to light and to infrared radiation |publisher=San Francisco Press |year=1972|isbn=978-0-911302-21-9}}</ref>