Why you should thank a moth | Akito Kawahara | TEDxUF

Moths are often thought of as pests. But they pollinate, make silk for clothing, and they shoot poop from their anus so fast that they are being used to develop devices that are capable of rapid fire. Some are used to grow a fungus that acts like Viagra. While there are more than 150,000 species of moths on Earth, few people know what they do and how important they are to humankind.

Dr. Akito Kawahara, Associate Professor at the University of Florida and Curator of Lepidoptera at the Florida Museum of Natural History's McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, inspires curiosity and teaches us about the value and beauty of the moths around us. Akito Y. Kawahara is a professor and curator of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) at the University of Florida. He has been fascinated by these insects ever since he was a child. His research group studies many aspects of moths and butterflies, from ultrasonic hearing in moths against bats, the genetics of silk production, and butterfly color patterns. He travels regularly to the deep jungles of the Amazon and Borneo study moths at night. As a curator of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, he is in charge of maintaining one of the largest collections of butterflies and moths in the world. He also regularly engages with the public and speaks about the importance of nature. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx