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Transcript: Sphinx Moth
[Upbeat music plays]
Text reads, “TVOkids” and “Fifth Ground Entertainment” “Original.”
Child says, WEE!
[Giggling]
Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators.”
An animated bee flies over the text.
[Buzzing, whooshing]
Leo, a blue and orange animated fish, says,
IT'S ME, LEO! THE EXPLORER
CLUB IS ON A NEW MISSION.
Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators.” “TVOkids Presents.”
[Upbeat music plays, whooshing]
Leo says, WE'RE HELPING THE
POLLINATORS, THOSE AMAZING
CREATURES WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.
POLLEN IS THE STUFF THAT HELPS
MAKE OUR FRUITS, VEGETABLES
AND FLOWERS.
WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS
FLYING, BUZZING, SLITHERING
AROUND, WE'D ALL BE GOING
HUNGRY, EVEN ME!
[Whooshing, buzzing]
Leo says, HOUSTEN AND CHLOE ARE
IN THE FIELD HELPING THE EXPERTS,
SO GRAB YOUR BOOTS AND YOUR NET,
AND YOU CAN BE A POLLINHEAD, TOO.
Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators. Explorer Club.”
Photographs show moths with their wings spread wide.
[Camera clicks]
Leo says, POLLINHEADS, IT'S
GOING TO BE A STAR-STUDDED
NIGHT TONIGHT!
WE ARE SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT
ON THOSE FANTASTIC BUT LITTLE
KNOWN POLLINATORS... MOTHS!
AND IF WE'RE LUCKY WE'LL GET
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH
THE BIGGEST MOTH POLLINATOR
OUT THERE, THE SPHINX MOTHS!
A brown moth flaps its brown wings as it flies close to a purple flower. Text beneath it reads, “Sphinx Moth.”
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]
Leo says, THEY'RE AT THE TOP
OF THE ‘NATOR NAVIGATOR.
NOW, YOU MAY BE THINKING,
I THOUGHT MOTHS WERE THOSE
CREATURES THAT ATE MY
WOOL SWEATERS.
Animated moths chew holes in an orange sweater.
[Chewing]
Leo says, BUT NOT ALL MOTHS
EAT WOOL. IN FACT, MOST DON'T.
A LOT OF MOTHS ARE POLLINATING
STARS OF THE NIGHT.
White moth outlines appear on all continents of the world except Antarctica.
[Popping, whoosh]
Leo says, THEY'RE FOUND ALL OVER
THE WORLD, EXCEPT ANTARCTICA.
AND THESE SUPERSTARS ARE BUILT
FOR SPEED, UP TO FIFTY KILOMETRES
PER HOUR! A SPEED YOU COULD ONLY
GET TO IN A CAR.
ONLY DRAGONFLIES ARE FASTER
IN THE INSECT WORLD. WOO!
THEY'RE NOT JUST SUPER FAST,
THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE ACROBATS
THAT CAN HOVER AND EVEN FLY
BACKWARDS, POLLINATING THE
WILDFLOWERS THAT FEED SO
MANY OTHER CREATURES.
[Insects hum]
Leo awkwardly swims backwards.
[Splashing]
Leo says, OOH! THAT'S DEFINITELY
NOT AS EASY AS YOU MIGHT THINK.
CHLOE AND HOUSTEN ARE HELPING
MADDIE FROM PARKS CANADA
DO A SPECIAL SURVEY OF THESE
SUPERSTAR POLLINATORS.
AND THEY ARE DOING IT IN A PLACE
WHERE THE STARS ALL REALLY COME
OUT, BRUCE PENINSULA NATIONAL
PARK. A DARK SKY PRESERVE,
WHERE THERE'S NO LIGHT AROUND,
OTHER THAN MOONLIGHT.
An orange flag on a map of Canada shows the location of Bruce Peninsula National Park.”
Chloe wears her red hair pulled back under a white ball cap. She wears a purple tee-shirt with a “Leo’s Pollinators” logo on the chest. Housten wears a wide brimmed blue hat over his short black hair. He wears an orange tee shirt with the “Leo’s Pollinators” logo on the chest. Maddie wears her long, wavy brown hair loose over her dark green shirt. Text beneath her reads, “Maddie Sanagan. Bruce Peninsula National Park. Park Ranger.” They walk on a boardwalk over plants, with a sandy beach and a water behind them.
[Upbeat music plays]
Maddie says, SO A REALLY GREAT
PLACE TO START WHEN WE'RE
LOOKING FOR MOTHS IS TO LOOK
FOR THEIR CATERPILLARS,
THEIR BABIES.
A black caterpillar with yellow circles crawls through grass.
[Camera snaps]
Chloe asks, SO THEY'RE LIKE
BUTTERFLIES, THEN?
Maddie says, EXACTLY. A LOT OF
CATERPILLARS OF MOTH SPECIES
HAVE SPECIFIC PLANTS THAT
THEY FEED ON, LIKE TAMARACKS,
BIRCH, WILLOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.
Text beneath photographs of three trees labels the trees as “Tamarack,” “Birch,” and “Willow.”
She continues, AND THE ADULTS
ESPECIALLY LOVE THINGS LIKE
THIS. SO THIS ONE RIGHT HERE
IS CALLED AN EVENING PRIMROSE.
WHICH A LOT OF SPHINX MOTHS
REALLY LIKE.
Text beneath a photograph of a yellow flower reads, “Evening Primrose.”
Maddie says, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK
AT THE FLOWER HERE, IT'S GOT
SORT OF A DEEP BLOOM SO THEIR
LONG TONGUES CAN REACH DOWN
AND GET THE NECTAR THAT'S INSIDE.
[Camera snap]
Housten asks, WHY DO WE ALWAYS
HEAR ABOUT BUTTERFLIES AND BEES
AS POLLINATORS, BUT NOT MOTHS?
[Whoosh]
Maddie says, THAT'S A REALLY
GOOD QUESTION.
IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE
THEY'RE UNDER-STUDIED,
AND UNDER-APPRECIATED.
EVEN SCIENTISTS DON'T KNOW
AS MUCH ABOUT MOTHS AS THEY
DO BUTTERFLIES AND BEES.
Chloe asks, WHY IS THAT? IS IT BECAUSE
THEY'RE USUALLY OUT AT NIGHT,
WHILE MOST OF US ARE SLEEPING?
Maddie says, EXACTLY. SO MOTHS
TAKE THE NIGHT SHIFT OF
POLLINATING. THEY ALSO DON'T
REALLY POLLINATE THE CROPS
THAT WE WOULD EAT, THEY'RE
MORE INTERESTED IN THE WILD
NATIVE PLANTS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
THAT NOT ALL CATERPILLARS
BECOME MOTHS, A LOT OF THEM END
UP AS FOOD THEMSELVES.
Housten says, YOU'RE TELLING ME
THESE MOTHS POLLINATE FOOD
FOR OTHER ANIMALS, BUT THEY'RE
FOOD THEMSELVES?
Maddie says, EXACTLY.
[Chloe and Housten gasp]
Maddie says, SO SPHINX MOTHS
ALSO ARE ATTRACTED TO PLANTS
TO PLANTS LIKE MILKWEED,
JUST BEHIND YOU.
THIS ONE ISN'T IN FLOWER,
BUT I CAN SHOW YOU ONE
THAT IS, LATER.
[Rustling]
Housten asks, HOW DO THESE
MOTHS POLLINATE?
Maddie says, SO THE SPHINX MOTHS
WILL HOVER IN FRONT OF THE
FLOWER, AND THEN THEY'LL USE
THEIR LONG TONGUES, OR PROBOSCIS,
TO GET THE NECTAR.
Text beside a hovering moth reads, “Proboscis equals Tongue.”
Maddie says, AND THAT'S WHERE
THE POLLEN IS.
THEIR TONGUES ARE SUPER LONG.
SOME OF THEM ARE AS LONG AS
THIRTY CENTIMETRES.
Chloe exclaims, THAT'S HUGE!
Maddie says, YEAH.
Housten says, THIRTY CENTIMETRES?
He sticks out his tongue.
Housten says, NOPE, I WOULDN'T
BE ANY GOOD AS A POLLINATOR.
[Chuckling]
Leo says, NO, BUT YOU MAKE A
GREAT POLLINHEAD, HOUSTEN.
Chloe asks, WHY DO THEY HOVER
SO MUCH? DOESN'T THAT TAKE
A LOT OF ENERGY?
THEY SHOULD JUST SIT ON THE
FLOWER LIKE A BEE WOULD.
Maddie says, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT
DOES TAKE A LOT OF ENERGY.
BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BIG,
LOTS OF THINGS MIGHT WANT
TO EAT THEM.
SO THEY'LL JUST HOVER IN FRONT
OF THE FLOWER, GET THEIR NECTAR,
AND THEN THEY CAN BE ON THEIR WAY.
KINDA LIKE WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING
THE ROAD, YOU LOOK LEFT AND RIGHT
BEFORE YOU GO.
THE SPHINX MOTHS WILL HOVER
SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE SURE
THEY'RE BEING SAFE AND THEY
CAN GET AWAY IF THEY NEED
TO, AND GET TO POLLINATING.
Housten says, LEO WAS RIGHT.
THEY'RE AN ACROBATIC
POLLINATING SUPERSTAR!
[Chuckling, whoosh]
Maddie, Housten, and Chloe peer over a railing at flowering milkweed plants.
Maddie says, SO THESE RIGHT
HERE ARE MILKWEED PLANTS,
WHICH IS THE ONE THAT
I SHOWED YOU EARLIER, BUT
THESE ONES ARE ACTUALLY
IN BLOOM, AND YOU'LL SEE
THE FLOWERS HERE ARE NICE
AND DEEP, WHICH IS WHAT THE
SPHINX MOTH LIKES, BECAUSE IT
HAS THAT GREAT BIG
LONG TONGUE.
[Whoosh]
Maddie says, THEY ALSO USE THEIR
BIG BRAINS TO REMEMBER WHERE
ALL THE GOOD NECTARING PLANTS
ARE. SO IF WE CAME BACK LATER
TONIGHT, THEY WOULD
PROBABLY BE FEEDING
AT THESE FLOWERS.
Housten asks, DO PLANTS HAVE
FAVOURITE POLLINATORS?
[Upbeat music plays]
Maddie says, IN A WAY THEY DO.
SO PLANTS AND POLLINATORS
EVOLVED ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER
SO THAT THE POLLINATORS HAVE
THE RIGHT TOOLS TO FEED
ON PLANTS.
SO THE SPHINX MOTH PROBABLY
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FEED
ON A TOMATO PLANT, SAY,
BECAUSE THAT PLANT NEEDS
A BUMBLEBEE WITH THE RIGHT
VIBRATION TO BOUNCE THE POLLEN
AROUND ON THEIR BODY.
[Whoosh, buzzing]
Chloe points to a leaf with a small green caterpillar.
She says, HEY, I THINK I FOUND
SOMETHING.
Maddie says, OH YEAH, IT'S A
MONARCH CATERPILLAR.
SO THESE ARE THE ONLY ONES
THAT CAN ACTUALLY EAT
THE LEAVES OF THE PLANT.
Chloe says, THEY'RE SO COOL!
Maddie says, MM-HMM.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, YOU
POLLINHEADS READY TO SET
UP OUR MOTH SHEET?
Chloe and Housten say, YEP!
[Whoosh, popping, rustling]
Maddie says, OKAY, LET'S GO.
OKAY GUYS, I THINK THIS
IS A GOOD SPOT HERE.
SO YOU JUST WANNA SET DOWN
YOUR STAND THERE. WE'RE
GONNA PUT THIS BIG SHEET ON
THE CROSSBAR.
Maddie and Chloe put down black metal poles. They hang a long white sheet between the poles.
Housten says, OKAY.
Maddie says, YEAH, AWESOME.
WE CAN PUSH THAT UP.
Chloe says, OH!
Housten asks, IT'S ALMOST FINISHED?
Chloe says, YEAH, IT'S GOOD.
Housten says, WHOA!
[Whoosh]
Maddie says, PERFECT.
SO ALL WE'RE GONNA DO IS SET UP
TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIGHTS.
I'VE GOT AN INCANDESCENT
LIGHT HERE, LIKE ONE YOU'D
FIND IN YOUR HOUSE.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE
A BLACK LIGHT.
Housten asks, WHAT'S A
BLACK LIGHT?
Maddie explains, A BLACK LIGHT
IS ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, SO IT'S
ON A DIFFERENT SPECTRUM THAT
ONLY OTHER ANIMALS CAN SEE.
AND IT JUST HELPS TO ATTRACT
MORE MOTHS.
Chloe says, THAT'S SO COOL!
Housten says, I KNOW, RIGHT?
[Whoosh]
Maddie says, NOW WE HAVE OUR
SHEET SET UP, ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS WAIT FOR THE SUN TO GO DOWN,
AND THE MOTHS TO COME OUT.
Housten and Chloe say, OKAY!
The sun sets.
[Whoosh, insects hum]
Text reads, “What’s the Buzz? With Leo.”
Leo says, THE SPHINX MOTHS
ARE NIGHT SHIFT POLLINATORS.
THEY BUZZ LIKE BEES, THEY FLY
FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER
SIPPING UP THEIR SWEET NECTAR,
AND SOME ARE AS PRETTY
AS BUTTERFLIES.
BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
White text against a blue background reads, “Lepidoptera.” “Lepis – Scale” “Pteron – Wing.”
Leo says, BOTH MOTHS AND
BUTTERFLIES COME FROM THE
SAME GROUP, LEPIDOPTERA.
IT'S A GREEK WORD. "LEPIS"
MEANS "SCALE," AND "PTERON"
MEANS "WING."
ABOUT NINETY PERCENT IN
THE LEPIDOPTERA GROUP ARE
MOTHS. WOW! LOTS MORE
MOTHS THAN BUTTERFLIES.
[Whoosh]
A pie chart shows “Ninety percent” and “ten percent.” White moth outlines fill the light green ninety percent area while two butterfly outlines fill the dark green ten percent area.
Leo says, MOST BUTTERFLIES
FOLD THEIR WINGS WHEN THEY
REST. BUT MOTHS KEEP THEIR
WINGS OPEN, LIKE AN AIRPLANE.
A green circle surrounds an orange and black butterfly’s wings. Text beneath it reads, “Monarch butterfly.” A green circle surrounds a white and black moth. Text beneath it reads, “Sphinx moth.”
[Whoosh]
Leo says, BUTTERFLY ANTENNAE
IS LONG AND THIN, WITH LITTLE
CLUBS AT THE END, WHILE THE
MOTH'S ANTENNAE IS SHORTER
AND FEATHERY.
SPHINX MOTHS HAVE VARIOUS
COLOURS AND PATTERNS ON
THEIR WINGS, BUT ARE USUALLY
MUCH MORE MUTED IN COLOUR.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT,
POLLINHEADS. MOTHS, BUTTERFLIES,
SO SIMILAR, YET SO DIFFERENT.
[Whooshing]
Housten and Chloe wear headlamps as they stand with Maddie beside the white sheet.
[Insect hum]
Chloe says, WOW, THEY REALLY
ARE ATTRACTED TO THE LIGHT.
Maddie says, SO MOTHS USE THE
MOON TO NAVIGATE AT NIGHT,
SO THEY GET A LITTLE BIT
CONFUSED AROUND ARTIFICIAL
LIGHTS. SO IT'S OKAY FOR US TO BE
CHECKING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S A GOOD IDEA
TO TURN OFF YOUR PORCH LIGHTS
AT NIGHT.
Housten says, THE BLACK LIGHT
IS ACTUALLY BLUE, AND THEY SEEM
TO LOVE IT!
Maddie says, THEY DO LIKE IT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT DIFFERENT
MOTHS ARE ATTRACTED TO
DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIGHT.
SO THE ONES DOWN HERE SEEM
TO REALLY LIKE THE BLACK LIGHT,
WHEREAS THERE ARE SOME UP
HERE THAT ARE MORE INTO
THE INCANDESCENT.
SO THIS IS A WILD CHERRY
SPHINX MOTH,
Chloe says, THAT IS THE BIGGEST
MOTH I'VE EVER SEEN.
Housten exclaims, IT'S HUMONGOUS!
Chloe asks, WHY ARE THEY CALLED
SPHINX MOTHS?
Maddie says, SOME PEOPLE THINK
THAT WHEN THEY'RE ALARMED
OR SCARED, THEY REAR THEIR HEADS
UP AND THEY PUT THEIR WINGS OUT,
AND THEY KIND OF LOOK LIKE
A SPHINX STATUE.
[Insects hum]
Housten asks, HOW MANY KINDS
OF THIS MOTH ARE THERE?
Photographs show different moths. Text beneath the photographs reads, “Death’s Head.” “Eyed.” “Pink Elephant.” “Lime.” “Silver-Striped.” “Spurge.” “Willow Herb.”
[Camera clicks, insects hum]
Maddie says, THERE'S A HUNDRED
AND TWENTY-FIVE SPHINX MOTHS
IN NORTH AMERICA. BUT THERE'S
THIRTY IN EASTERN CANADA.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME
TO PICK A FAVOURITE, BUT THE
WHITE-LINED SPHINX MOTH
IS PRETTY COOL.
A photograph shows a white and brown moth. Text beneath it reads, “White-Lined.”
[Camera clicks]
Maddie says, THEY HAVE HEARING
MOUTHPARTS, SO THEY CAN HEAR
THROUGH THEIR MOUTH, AND THEY
MIGRATE SOUTH IN THE WINTER.
Chloe and Housten look astonished.
Housten asks, THEY CAN HEAR
FROM THEIR MOUTH?!
Maddie says, I KNOW.
Chloe says, IT'S LIKE MY GRANDMA
ALWAYS SAYS, LISTEN BEFORE
YOU SPEAK.
[Housten laugs]
Chloe says, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW
MANY DIFFERENT INSECTS THERE
ARE! AND A LOT OF MOSQUITOS, TOO.
Maddie says, IT'S FUNNY YOU POINT
THAT OUT, BECAUSE MOSQUITOES
ARE ALSO POLLINATORS.
Hosuten says, WHOA!
Chloe says, WHAT?!
BUT THEY SUCK OUR BLOOD!
Maddie says, SO THIS IS A
WHITE-BLOTCHED
HETEROCAMPA MOTH.
Text reads, “White-Blotched Heterocampa.”
Chloe repeats, WHITE-BLOTCHED
HETEROCAMPA.
Maddie says, THERE YOU GO.
Housten says, THAT'S A PRETTY
BIG NAME.
[Whoosh]
Housten points at a black and red moth.
He asks, WHAT IS THAT MOTH?
Text beneath the moth reads, “Scarlet Lichen.”
[Camera clicks]
Maddie says, THIS IS A SCARLET
LICHEN MOTH, THESE ONES AND
PAINTED LICHEN MOTHS. BOTH
ARE MIMICS OF FIREFLIES. SO
THEY'RE PRETENDING TO BE
FIREFLIES, BECAUSE FIREFLIES
HAVE A CHEMICAL THAT
PREDATORS WOULD GET REALLY
SICK IF THEY ATE.
Two photographs show a “Scarlet Lichen” moth and a “Firefly.”
Housten says, OH, THAT'S
VERY SMART.
Maddie says, YEAH, THEY'RE
GOOD ACTORS.
[Laughter]
[Whoosh]
Chloe says, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE
THESE NIGHTTIME POLLINATING
STARS UP CLOSE! I'M GONNA DO
MOTH SURVEYS ALL SUMMER.
[Insects hum]
Maddie says, ALTHOUGH IT'S SUPER
FUN, WE DON'T WANNA DO IT TOO
OFTEN, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT
TO DISTRACT THEM FROM DOING
THEIR POLLINATING JOBS.
Housten says, IT'S JUST TOO BAD
THAT PEOPLE DON'T APPRECIATE
THESE SUPERSTAR POLLINATORS.
Maddie says, YOU'RE RIGHT,
BUT YOU CAN DO THIS IN YOUR
OWN BACKYARD.
ALL YOU NEED IS A SHEET
AND SOME LIGHTS.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT
DOING IT TOO OFTEN. MAYBE LIKE,
ONCE OR TWICE A SUMMER.
Chloe asks, SO HOW DO WE LET
THESE MOTHS GET BACK
TO POLLINATING?
Maddie says, ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS TURN OFF THE LIGHTS.
Maddie turns off the lights.
[Click]
Maddie says, NOW, LOOK UP.
[Chloe and Housten gasp]
Housten says, THAT'S AMAZING!
I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY STARS!
Maddie says, THIS PARK IS ACTUALLY
A DARK SKY PRESERVE, WHICH MEANS
WE DON'T ALLOW ANY LIGHTS ON
BUILDINGS OR ON STREETLIGHTS
AT NIGHT.
THAT MAKES SURE THAT ALL
THE CRITTERS, INCLUDING THE
POLLINATORS, CAN DO THEIR JOB.
Chloe says, NOW WE KNOW HOW
THE SPHINX MOTHS EXPERIENCE
THE NIGHT.
Housten says, THIS CALLS FOR A
HIGH FLY.
Chloe and Housten say, SO YOU
PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE MIDDLE
LIKE THIS...
They hold their hands out in front of them.
Housten says, AND THEN YOU GO
LIKE THIS...
Housten, Chloe, and Maddie wiggle their fingers.
They say, HIIIIGH FLY!
[Laughter]
Chloe says, YES!
Text reads, “Pollinheads Alert!”
[Whoosh]
Leo says, POLLINHEADS ALERT!
THE MORE PEOPLE WHO GET
INTERESTED IN GETTING TO
KNOW MOTHS AND HOW
IMPORTANT THEY ARE IN
POLLINATING, THE BETTER,
ESPECIALLY AS THESE SUPER
POLLINATORS WITH LONG
TONGUES AND POWERFUL
WINGS ARE HAVING A HARD
TIME SURVIVING.
THEY NEED YOU TO BE
THEIR FRIEND.
SHOW THEM A LITTLE RESPECT.
DON'T BE SO QUICK TO SWAT
THEM AWAY.
AND IF ONE GETS IN YOUR HOUSE,
TRY TO GUIDE IT BACK OUTSIDE.
AND REMEMBER TO KEEP
YOUR PORCH LIGHTS OFF,
SO YOU DON'T CONFUSE THEM,
AS THEY NEED THE MOONLIGHT
TO GUIDE THEM ON THEIR NIGHTLY
POLLINATING ADVENTURES.
[Click, upbeat music plays]
Leo asks, SEE HOW EASY THAT
IS, POLLINHEADS?
[Upbeat music plays]
End credits roll.
“Directed by: Kara Harun.
Written by: Reem Morsi.
Created by: Karen Hawes and Christopher Szarka.
Produced by: Christopher Szarka and Raj Panikkar.
With
Naomi Melvin as ‘LEO’.
Chloe Drayton.
Housten Daghighi.
Produced in association with TVOkids.
Fifth Ground Entertainment.
TVOkids.”
Text reads, “TVOkids” and “Fifth Ground Entertainment” “Original.”
Child says, WEE!
[Giggling]
Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators.”
An animated bee flies over the text.
[Buzzing, whooshing]
Leo, a blue and orange animated fish, says,
IT'S ME, LEO! THE EXPLORER
CLUB IS ON A NEW MISSION.
Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators.” “TVOkids Presents.”
[Upbeat music plays, whooshing]
Leo says, WE'RE HELPING THE
POLLINATORS, THOSE AMAZING
CREATURES WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.
POLLEN IS THE STUFF THAT HELPS
MAKE OUR FRUITS, VEGETABLES
AND FLOWERS.
WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS
FLYING, BUZZING, SLITHERING
AROUND, WE'D ALL BE GOING
HUNGRY, EVEN ME!
[Whooshing, buzzing]
Leo says, HOUSTEN AND CHLOE ARE
IN THE FIELD HELPING THE EXPERTS,
SO GRAB YOUR BOOTS AND YOUR NET,
AND YOU CAN BE A POLLINHEAD, TOO.
Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators. Explorer Club.”
Photographs show moths with their wings spread wide.
[Camera clicks]
Leo says, POLLINHEADS, IT'S
GOING TO BE A STAR-STUDDED
NIGHT TONIGHT!
WE ARE SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT
ON THOSE FANTASTIC BUT LITTLE
KNOWN POLLINATORS... MOTHS!
AND IF WE'RE LUCKY WE'LL GET
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH
THE BIGGEST MOTH POLLINATOR
OUT THERE, THE SPHINX MOTHS!
A brown moth flaps its brown wings as it flies close to a purple flower. Text beneath it reads, “Sphinx Moth.”
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]
Leo says, THEY'RE AT THE TOP
OF THE ‘NATOR NAVIGATOR.
NOW, YOU MAY BE THINKING,
I THOUGHT MOTHS WERE THOSE
CREATURES THAT ATE MY
WOOL SWEATERS.
Animated moths chew holes in an orange sweater.
[Chewing]
Leo says, BUT NOT ALL MOTHS
EAT WOOL. IN FACT, MOST DON'T.
A LOT OF MOTHS ARE POLLINATING
STARS OF THE NIGHT.
White moth outlines appear on all continents of the world except Antarctica.
[Popping, whoosh]
Leo says, THEY'RE FOUND ALL OVER
THE WORLD, EXCEPT ANTARCTICA.
AND THESE SUPERSTARS ARE BUILT
FOR SPEED, UP TO FIFTY KILOMETRES
PER HOUR! A SPEED YOU COULD ONLY
GET TO IN A CAR.
ONLY DRAGONFLIES ARE FASTER
IN THE INSECT WORLD. WOO!
THEY'RE NOT JUST SUPER FAST,
THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE ACROBATS
THAT CAN HOVER AND EVEN FLY
BACKWARDS, POLLINATING THE
WILDFLOWERS THAT FEED SO
MANY OTHER CREATURES.
[Insects hum]
Leo awkwardly swims backwards.
[Splashing]
Leo says, OOH! THAT'S DEFINITELY
NOT AS EASY AS YOU MIGHT THINK.
CHLOE AND HOUSTEN ARE HELPING
MADDIE FROM PARKS CANADA
DO A SPECIAL SURVEY OF THESE
SUPERSTAR POLLINATORS.
AND THEY ARE DOING IT IN A PLACE
WHERE THE STARS ALL REALLY COME
OUT, BRUCE PENINSULA NATIONAL
PARK. A DARK SKY PRESERVE,
WHERE THERE'S NO LIGHT AROUND,
OTHER THAN MOONLIGHT.
An orange flag on a map of Canada shows the location of Bruce Peninsula National Park.”
Chloe wears her red hair pulled back under a white ball cap. She wears a purple tee-shirt with a “Leo’s Pollinators” logo on the chest. Housten wears a wide brimmed blue hat over his short black hair. He wears an orange tee shirt with the “Leo’s Pollinators” logo on the chest. Maddie wears her long, wavy brown hair loose over her dark green shirt. Text beneath her reads, “Maddie Sanagan. Bruce Peninsula National Park. Park Ranger.” They walk on a boardwalk over plants, with a sandy beach and a water behind them.
[Upbeat music plays]
Maddie says, SO A REALLY GREAT
PLACE TO START WHEN WE'RE
LOOKING FOR MOTHS IS TO LOOK
FOR THEIR CATERPILLARS,
THEIR BABIES.
A black caterpillar with yellow circles crawls through grass.
[Camera snaps]
Chloe asks, SO THEY'RE LIKE
BUTTERFLIES, THEN?
Maddie says, EXACTLY. A LOT OF
CATERPILLARS OF MOTH SPECIES
HAVE SPECIFIC PLANTS THAT
THEY FEED ON, LIKE TAMARACKS,
BIRCH, WILLOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.
Text beneath photographs of three trees labels the trees as “Tamarack,” “Birch,” and “Willow.”
She continues, AND THE ADULTS
ESPECIALLY LOVE THINGS LIKE
THIS. SO THIS ONE RIGHT HERE
IS CALLED AN EVENING PRIMROSE.
WHICH A LOT OF SPHINX MOTHS
REALLY LIKE.
Text beneath a photograph of a yellow flower reads, “Evening Primrose.”
Maddie says, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK
AT THE FLOWER HERE, IT'S GOT
SORT OF A DEEP BLOOM SO THEIR
LONG TONGUES CAN REACH DOWN
AND GET THE NECTAR THAT'S INSIDE.
[Camera snap]
Housten asks, WHY DO WE ALWAYS
HEAR ABOUT BUTTERFLIES AND BEES
AS POLLINATORS, BUT NOT MOTHS?
[Whoosh]
Maddie says, THAT'S A REALLY
GOOD QUESTION.
IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE
THEY'RE UNDER-STUDIED,
AND UNDER-APPRECIATED.
EVEN SCIENTISTS DON'T KNOW
AS MUCH ABOUT MOTHS AS THEY
DO BUTTERFLIES AND BEES.
Chloe asks, WHY IS THAT? IS IT BECAUSE
THEY'RE USUALLY OUT AT NIGHT,
WHILE MOST OF US ARE SLEEPING?
Maddie says, EXACTLY. SO MOTHS
TAKE THE NIGHT SHIFT OF
POLLINATING. THEY ALSO DON'T
REALLY POLLINATE THE CROPS
THAT WE WOULD EAT, THEY'RE
MORE INTERESTED IN THE WILD
NATIVE PLANTS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
THAT NOT ALL CATERPILLARS
BECOME MOTHS, A LOT OF THEM END
UP AS FOOD THEMSELVES.
Housten says, YOU'RE TELLING ME
THESE MOTHS POLLINATE FOOD
FOR OTHER ANIMALS, BUT THEY'RE
FOOD THEMSELVES?
Maddie says, EXACTLY.
[Chloe and Housten gasp]
Maddie says, SO SPHINX MOTHS
ALSO ARE ATTRACTED TO PLANTS
TO PLANTS LIKE MILKWEED,
JUST BEHIND YOU.
THIS ONE ISN'T IN FLOWER,
BUT I CAN SHOW YOU ONE
THAT IS, LATER.
[Rustling]
Housten asks, HOW DO THESE
MOTHS POLLINATE?
Maddie says, SO THE SPHINX MOTHS
WILL HOVER IN FRONT OF THE
FLOWER, AND THEN THEY'LL USE
THEIR LONG TONGUES, OR PROBOSCIS,
TO GET THE NECTAR.
Text beside a hovering moth reads, “Proboscis equals Tongue.”
Maddie says, AND THAT'S WHERE
THE POLLEN IS.
THEIR TONGUES ARE SUPER LONG.
SOME OF THEM ARE AS LONG AS
THIRTY CENTIMETRES.
Chloe exclaims, THAT'S HUGE!
Maddie says, YEAH.
Housten says, THIRTY CENTIMETRES?
He sticks out his tongue.
Housten says, NOPE, I WOULDN'T
BE ANY GOOD AS A POLLINATOR.
[Chuckling]
Leo says, NO, BUT YOU MAKE A
GREAT POLLINHEAD, HOUSTEN.
Chloe asks, WHY DO THEY HOVER
SO MUCH? DOESN'T THAT TAKE
A LOT OF ENERGY?
THEY SHOULD JUST SIT ON THE
FLOWER LIKE A BEE WOULD.
Maddie says, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT
DOES TAKE A LOT OF ENERGY.
BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BIG,
LOTS OF THINGS MIGHT WANT
TO EAT THEM.
SO THEY'LL JUST HOVER IN FRONT
OF THE FLOWER, GET THEIR NECTAR,
AND THEN THEY CAN BE ON THEIR WAY.
KINDA LIKE WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING
THE ROAD, YOU LOOK LEFT AND RIGHT
BEFORE YOU GO.
THE SPHINX MOTHS WILL HOVER
SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE SURE
THEY'RE BEING SAFE AND THEY
CAN GET AWAY IF THEY NEED
TO, AND GET TO POLLINATING.
Housten says, LEO WAS RIGHT.
THEY'RE AN ACROBATIC
POLLINATING SUPERSTAR!
[Chuckling, whoosh]
Maddie, Housten, and Chloe peer over a railing at flowering milkweed plants.
Maddie says, SO THESE RIGHT
HERE ARE MILKWEED PLANTS,
WHICH IS THE ONE THAT
I SHOWED YOU EARLIER, BUT
THESE ONES ARE ACTUALLY
IN BLOOM, AND YOU'LL SEE
THE FLOWERS HERE ARE NICE
AND DEEP, WHICH IS WHAT THE
SPHINX MOTH LIKES, BECAUSE IT
HAS THAT GREAT BIG
LONG TONGUE.
[Whoosh]
Maddie says, THEY ALSO USE THEIR
BIG BRAINS TO REMEMBER WHERE
ALL THE GOOD NECTARING PLANTS
ARE. SO IF WE CAME BACK LATER
TONIGHT, THEY WOULD
PROBABLY BE FEEDING
AT THESE FLOWERS.
Housten asks, DO PLANTS HAVE
FAVOURITE POLLINATORS?
[Upbeat music plays]
Maddie says, IN A WAY THEY DO.
SO PLANTS AND POLLINATORS
EVOLVED ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER
SO THAT THE POLLINATORS HAVE
THE RIGHT TOOLS TO FEED
ON PLANTS.
SO THE SPHINX MOTH PROBABLY
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FEED
ON A TOMATO PLANT, SAY,
BECAUSE THAT PLANT NEEDS
A BUMBLEBEE WITH THE RIGHT
VIBRATION TO BOUNCE THE POLLEN
AROUND ON THEIR BODY.
[Whoosh, buzzing]
Chloe points to a leaf with a small green caterpillar.
She says, HEY, I THINK I FOUND
SOMETHING.
Maddie says, OH YEAH, IT'S A
MONARCH CATERPILLAR.
SO THESE ARE THE ONLY ONES
THAT CAN ACTUALLY EAT
THE LEAVES OF THE PLANT.
Chloe says, THEY'RE SO COOL!
Maddie says, MM-HMM.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, YOU
POLLINHEADS READY TO SET
UP OUR MOTH SHEET?
Chloe and Housten say, YEP!
[Whoosh, popping, rustling]
Maddie says, OKAY, LET'S GO.
OKAY GUYS, I THINK THIS
IS A GOOD SPOT HERE.
SO YOU JUST WANNA SET DOWN
YOUR STAND THERE. WE'RE
GONNA PUT THIS BIG SHEET ON
THE CROSSBAR.
Maddie and Chloe put down black metal poles. They hang a long white sheet between the poles.
Housten says, OKAY.
Maddie says, YEAH, AWESOME.
WE CAN PUSH THAT UP.
Chloe says, OH!
Housten asks, IT'S ALMOST FINISHED?
Chloe says, YEAH, IT'S GOOD.
Housten says, WHOA!
[Whoosh]
Maddie says, PERFECT.
SO ALL WE'RE GONNA DO IS SET UP
TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIGHTS.
I'VE GOT AN INCANDESCENT
LIGHT HERE, LIKE ONE YOU'D
FIND IN YOUR HOUSE.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE
A BLACK LIGHT.
Housten asks, WHAT'S A
BLACK LIGHT?
Maddie explains, A BLACK LIGHT
IS ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, SO IT'S
ON A DIFFERENT SPECTRUM THAT
ONLY OTHER ANIMALS CAN SEE.
AND IT JUST HELPS TO ATTRACT
MORE MOTHS.
Chloe says, THAT'S SO COOL!
Housten says, I KNOW, RIGHT?
[Whoosh]
Maddie says, NOW WE HAVE OUR
SHEET SET UP, ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS WAIT FOR THE SUN TO GO DOWN,
AND THE MOTHS TO COME OUT.
Housten and Chloe say, OKAY!
The sun sets.
[Whoosh, insects hum]
Text reads, “What’s the Buzz? With Leo.”
Leo says, THE SPHINX MOTHS
ARE NIGHT SHIFT POLLINATORS.
THEY BUZZ LIKE BEES, THEY FLY
FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER
SIPPING UP THEIR SWEET NECTAR,
AND SOME ARE AS PRETTY
AS BUTTERFLIES.
BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
White text against a blue background reads, “Lepidoptera.” “Lepis – Scale” “Pteron – Wing.”
Leo says, BOTH MOTHS AND
BUTTERFLIES COME FROM THE
SAME GROUP, LEPIDOPTERA.
IT'S A GREEK WORD. "LEPIS"
MEANS "SCALE," AND "PTERON"
MEANS "WING."
ABOUT NINETY PERCENT IN
THE LEPIDOPTERA GROUP ARE
MOTHS. WOW! LOTS MORE
MOTHS THAN BUTTERFLIES.
[Whoosh]
A pie chart shows “Ninety percent” and “ten percent.” White moth outlines fill the light green ninety percent area while two butterfly outlines fill the dark green ten percent area.
Leo says, MOST BUTTERFLIES
FOLD THEIR WINGS WHEN THEY
REST. BUT MOTHS KEEP THEIR
WINGS OPEN, LIKE AN AIRPLANE.
A green circle surrounds an orange and black butterfly’s wings. Text beneath it reads, “Monarch butterfly.” A green circle surrounds a white and black moth. Text beneath it reads, “Sphinx moth.”
[Whoosh]
Leo says, BUTTERFLY ANTENNAE
IS LONG AND THIN, WITH LITTLE
CLUBS AT THE END, WHILE THE
MOTH'S ANTENNAE IS SHORTER
AND FEATHERY.
SPHINX MOTHS HAVE VARIOUS
COLOURS AND PATTERNS ON
THEIR WINGS, BUT ARE USUALLY
MUCH MORE MUTED IN COLOUR.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT,
POLLINHEADS. MOTHS, BUTTERFLIES,
SO SIMILAR, YET SO DIFFERENT.
[Whooshing]
Housten and Chloe wear headlamps as they stand with Maddie beside the white sheet.
[Insect hum]
Chloe says, WOW, THEY REALLY
ARE ATTRACTED TO THE LIGHT.
Maddie says, SO MOTHS USE THE
MOON TO NAVIGATE AT NIGHT,
SO THEY GET A LITTLE BIT
CONFUSED AROUND ARTIFICIAL
LIGHTS. SO IT'S OKAY FOR US TO BE
CHECKING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S A GOOD IDEA
TO TURN OFF YOUR PORCH LIGHTS
AT NIGHT.
Housten says, THE BLACK LIGHT
IS ACTUALLY BLUE, AND THEY SEEM
TO LOVE IT!
Maddie says, THEY DO LIKE IT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT DIFFERENT
MOTHS ARE ATTRACTED TO
DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIGHT.
SO THE ONES DOWN HERE SEEM
TO REALLY LIKE THE BLACK LIGHT,
WHEREAS THERE ARE SOME UP
HERE THAT ARE MORE INTO
THE INCANDESCENT.
SO THIS IS A WILD CHERRY
SPHINX MOTH,
Chloe says, THAT IS THE BIGGEST
MOTH I'VE EVER SEEN.
Housten exclaims, IT'S HUMONGOUS!
Chloe asks, WHY ARE THEY CALLED
SPHINX MOTHS?
Maddie says, SOME PEOPLE THINK
THAT WHEN THEY'RE ALARMED
OR SCARED, THEY REAR THEIR HEADS
UP AND THEY PUT THEIR WINGS OUT,
AND THEY KIND OF LOOK LIKE
A SPHINX STATUE.
[Insects hum]
Housten asks, HOW MANY KINDS
OF THIS MOTH ARE THERE?
Photographs show different moths. Text beneath the photographs reads, “Death’s Head.” “Eyed.” “Pink Elephant.” “Lime.” “Silver-Striped.” “Spurge.” “Willow Herb.”
[Camera clicks, insects hum]
Maddie says, THERE'S A HUNDRED
AND TWENTY-FIVE SPHINX MOTHS
IN NORTH AMERICA. BUT THERE'S
THIRTY IN EASTERN CANADA.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME
TO PICK A FAVOURITE, BUT THE
WHITE-LINED SPHINX MOTH
IS PRETTY COOL.
A photograph shows a white and brown moth. Text beneath it reads, “White-Lined.”
[Camera clicks]
Maddie says, THEY HAVE HEARING
MOUTHPARTS, SO THEY CAN HEAR
THROUGH THEIR MOUTH, AND THEY
MIGRATE SOUTH IN THE WINTER.
Chloe and Housten look astonished.
Housten asks, THEY CAN HEAR
FROM THEIR MOUTH?!
Maddie says, I KNOW.
Chloe says, IT'S LIKE MY GRANDMA
ALWAYS SAYS, LISTEN BEFORE
YOU SPEAK.
[Housten laugs]
Chloe says, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW
MANY DIFFERENT INSECTS THERE
ARE! AND A LOT OF MOSQUITOS, TOO.
Maddie says, IT'S FUNNY YOU POINT
THAT OUT, BECAUSE MOSQUITOES
ARE ALSO POLLINATORS.
Hosuten says, WHOA!
Chloe says, WHAT?!
BUT THEY SUCK OUR BLOOD!
Maddie says, SO THIS IS A
WHITE-BLOTCHED
HETEROCAMPA MOTH.
Text reads, “White-Blotched Heterocampa.”
Chloe repeats, WHITE-BLOTCHED
HETEROCAMPA.
Maddie says, THERE YOU GO.
Housten says, THAT'S A PRETTY
BIG NAME.
[Whoosh]
Housten points at a black and red moth.
He asks, WHAT IS THAT MOTH?
Text beneath the moth reads, “Scarlet Lichen.”
[Camera clicks]
Maddie says, THIS IS A SCARLET
LICHEN MOTH, THESE ONES AND
PAINTED LICHEN MOTHS. BOTH
ARE MIMICS OF FIREFLIES. SO
THEY'RE PRETENDING TO BE
FIREFLIES, BECAUSE FIREFLIES
HAVE A CHEMICAL THAT
PREDATORS WOULD GET REALLY
SICK IF THEY ATE.
Two photographs show a “Scarlet Lichen” moth and a “Firefly.”
Housten says, OH, THAT'S
VERY SMART.
Maddie says, YEAH, THEY'RE
GOOD ACTORS.
[Laughter]
[Whoosh]
Chloe says, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE
THESE NIGHTTIME POLLINATING
STARS UP CLOSE! I'M GONNA DO
MOTH SURVEYS ALL SUMMER.
[Insects hum]
Maddie says, ALTHOUGH IT'S SUPER
FUN, WE DON'T WANNA DO IT TOO
OFTEN, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT
TO DISTRACT THEM FROM DOING
THEIR POLLINATING JOBS.
Housten says, IT'S JUST TOO BAD
THAT PEOPLE DON'T APPRECIATE
THESE SUPERSTAR POLLINATORS.
Maddie says, YOU'RE RIGHT,
BUT YOU CAN DO THIS IN YOUR
OWN BACKYARD.
ALL YOU NEED IS A SHEET
AND SOME LIGHTS.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT
DOING IT TOO OFTEN. MAYBE LIKE,
ONCE OR TWICE A SUMMER.
Chloe asks, SO HOW DO WE LET
THESE MOTHS GET BACK
TO POLLINATING?
Maddie says, ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS TURN OFF THE LIGHTS.
Maddie turns off the lights.
[Click]
Maddie says, NOW, LOOK UP.
[Chloe and Housten gasp]
Housten says, THAT'S AMAZING!
I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY STARS!
Maddie says, THIS PARK IS ACTUALLY
A DARK SKY PRESERVE, WHICH MEANS
WE DON'T ALLOW ANY LIGHTS ON
BUILDINGS OR ON STREETLIGHTS
AT NIGHT.
THAT MAKES SURE THAT ALL
THE CRITTERS, INCLUDING THE
POLLINATORS, CAN DO THEIR JOB.
Chloe says, NOW WE KNOW HOW
THE SPHINX MOTHS EXPERIENCE
THE NIGHT.
Housten says, THIS CALLS FOR A
HIGH FLY.
Chloe and Housten say, SO YOU
PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE MIDDLE
LIKE THIS...
They hold their hands out in front of them.
Housten says, AND THEN YOU GO
LIKE THIS...
Housten, Chloe, and Maddie wiggle their fingers.
They say, HIIIIGH FLY!
[Laughter]
Chloe says, YES!
Text reads, “Pollinheads Alert!”
[Whoosh]
Leo says, POLLINHEADS ALERT!
THE MORE PEOPLE WHO GET
INTERESTED IN GETTING TO
KNOW MOTHS AND HOW
IMPORTANT THEY ARE IN
POLLINATING, THE BETTER,
ESPECIALLY AS THESE SUPER
POLLINATORS WITH LONG
TONGUES AND POWERFUL
WINGS ARE HAVING A HARD
TIME SURVIVING.
THEY NEED YOU TO BE
THEIR FRIEND.
SHOW THEM A LITTLE RESPECT.
DON'T BE SO QUICK TO SWAT
THEM AWAY.
AND IF ONE GETS IN YOUR HOUSE,
TRY TO GUIDE IT BACK OUTSIDE.
AND REMEMBER TO KEEP
YOUR PORCH LIGHTS OFF,
SO YOU DON'T CONFUSE THEM,
AS THEY NEED THE MOONLIGHT
TO GUIDE THEM ON THEIR NIGHTLY
POLLINATING ADVENTURES.
[Click, upbeat music plays]
Leo asks, SEE HOW EASY THAT
IS, POLLINHEADS?
[Upbeat music plays]
End credits roll.
“Directed by: Kara Harun.
Written by: Reem Morsi.
Created by: Karen Hawes and Christopher Szarka.
Produced by: Christopher Szarka and Raj Panikkar.
With
Naomi Melvin as ‘LEO’.
Chloe Drayton.
Housten Daghighi.
Produced in association with TVOkids.
Fifth Ground Entertainment.
TVOkids.”
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