We have gotten to know bees, bumblebees, ants, butterflies and many other small diurnal animals by spending time outdoors, looking at the flowers in the fields and the plants thriving in the countryside.

But what happens after sunset? When light gives way to dark, the fields are packed with nocturnal insects, a real “army of the night” which works tirelessly to pollinate, limit the effect of parasites and play many other roles that help protect the ecosystem. Let’s get to know some of them.

Moths. Similar in appearance to butterflies and belonging to the same family of lepidoptera, moths look different to butterflies due to their characteristic less lively colours and the fuzzy covering on their body, head and wings. The diet of these insatiable nocturnal insects is mainly formed of remnants of organic matter from small insects, tree bark and flower nectar, the latter makes moths essential for plants to reproduce.

Cicadas. Even if you’ve never actually seen a cicada, you’ll definitely have heard them: that non-stop, almost metallic, buzzing is made by the males calling the females to mate. Alongside their unmistakable sound, you know these insects are around by the trails of ants. In fact, ants love the sugary substances released by cicadas when they feed on tree sap – their main food. They are potentially harmful to crops because they take nutrients away from plants.

Stag beetles. Part of the huge coleoptera family, stag beetles get their strange name from the large sharp, curved mandibles of the males, which look like a stag’s antlers. They love ripe fruit, but mainly feed on decomposing plants and the sugary sap found in oak, poplar and chestnut trees. Despite their menacing appearance due to their large mandibles, stag beetles are harmless to humans and crops.

Fireflies. Did you know that about two thousand species of firefly have been identified all around the world? These insects have always fascinated people due to their bioluminescence, which is their ability to emit light for mating purposes. They are friends of farmers as they feed on slugs, snails and other small animals that damage crops. Unfortunately, due to light pollution, pesticides and the destruction of their natural habitat, firefly populations are falling dramatically.

Image by Toan Phan from Unsplash