It’s not just you.
It seems that moths are just about everywhere across eastern Colorado this spring, and there are weather-related drivers behind this recent surge in these pesky, fluttery insects.
https://twitter.com/kgirlartist66/status/1263118808576856066?s=20
If you hate moths now is definitely NOT the time to come to Colorado. They are everywhere.
— Kolby Crossley (@KolbyCrossley)
warned that moth populations might be on the increase this spring due to a number of factors, but two of the primary reasons are weather-related.
A dry late winter and spring to-date are likely boosting local moth populations, said Colorado State entomology professors Whitney Cranshaw and Frank Peairs. So-called miller moths are looking for nectar to feed off, and with fewer plants due to drier conditions, moths are more likely to concentrate in areas where vegetation is already in place — like backyards and gardens.
Last season, a wet spring and late winter increased the number of plants, spreading out the moths over a wider area.
It’s not just the unusually dry weather, though. A harsh mid-April freeze killed off potential vegetation for moths to feed off of.
“This (mid-April freeze) killed blossoms from a very wide variety of plants that normally would be in peak bloom in early to mid-May,” .
The study also says that moth populations have generally run below average over the last four years, potentially making it feel like there are more moths than usual this spring.
