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As summer turns to fall, katydids become a familiar part of the evening soundtrack. Their calls are a reminder that the garden is still active after dark, even when much of that activity goes unnoticed. While bees and butterflies get plenty of attention during the day, moths and other nocturnal insects are also visiting flowers and moving pollen between plants.
Moths are important nighttime pollinators, visiting flowers for nectar and sometimes carrying pollen from one bloom to the next. Many rely on scent to find flowers in low light, making fragrance an important part of the relationship between plants and their nighttime visitors.
Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) is one plant worth noticing as summer progresses. Its clusters of fragrant flowers bloom through summer and into early fall, adding color and scent to the garden late in the season. We can’t assume that moths are its primary pollinators, but phlox offers a useful reminder that a garden’s appeal extends beyond what we see during the day.
Photo Credits (left to right):Brianna Nugent, Missouri Department of Conservation, Merlin D. Tuttle BCI
These nighttime interactions are another reason to think about a garden as a connected ecosystem. Flowering plants provide resources at different times of year, while the shape, scent, and timing of their blooms influence which insects visit them. A planting that offers variety throughout the growing season can support a wider range of wildlife.
There are also simple ways to make outdoor spaces more welcoming after dark. Including a variety of flowering plants and maintaining vegetation that provides shelter can help support garden wildlife. Reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting is another practical step, since artificial light can interfere with the behavior of nocturnal insects.
The next time katydids start calling on a late-summer evening, take a moment to look beyond the familiar sounds. The garden may seem quiet, but there’s still plenty happening after sunset.
Sources:
- MacGregor, C. J., et al. “Pollination by Nocturnal Lepidoptera, and the Effects of Light Pollution: A Review.” Ecology and Evolution. Read the research.
- “Nocturnal Pollination: An Overlooked Ecosystem Service Vulnerable to Environmental Change.” Read the research.
- North Carolina State Extension. “Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata).” Read the plant profile.