Ethology of Nocturnal Moths: An Exploration of the Concept of Farāsh

Ethology is a branch of biological science that studies animal behaviour. It examines the relationship between organisms and their environment, which influences the movement and actions. Knowledge about insects such asmoths, however has been less explored by ecologists. Moths belong to one of the largest families within the order Lepidoptera, alongside butterflies. Their movements can be explained through both innate and learned behaviors. Although current information about moth behaviour remains limited, the Qur’an mentions them in Surah Al-Qāriʿah,
verse 4, using the word farāsh (moths scattered in flight). This study therefore, aimed to study the ethology of nocturnal moth and their interaction with the environment, as well as to compare behavioral differences between species. The method applied was a comprehensive and thorough review of past study of the nocturnal moth, mainly about the ethology. The results show that the nocturnal moth exhibits differences in their body structures, including pectinate antenna in month compared to club antenna in butterflies as well as the presence of frenulum and retinaculum that aid flying. These differences may explain the behavior of moth to fly at night in scattered manner. It suggests that unique structural adaptation of nocturnal moth is linked to their behavioral pattern.