Bats

Bats and Moths: Maryland’s Nighttime Allies

When the sun goes down, the pollinator shift doesn’t stop—it just changes wings. While bees and butterflies rest, moths emerge to pollinate flowers that bloom in the evening, and bats take to the skies to feast on night-flying insects. Together, these often-overlooked nocturnal creatures help keep our native plant communities thriving.

Maryland is home to over 2,000 species of moths and 10 native bat species. Many moths serve as pollinators, visiting fragrant, pale-colored flowers like Evening Primrose, Starry Campion, and Buttonbush after dark. These same moths are also the primary food source for bats, especially mothers feeding their young during summer.

That’s why planting native plants that support moths is one of the most important—and often forgotten—ways to help bats.

Maryland Native Bats

Tree Bats

Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis)

Hoary bat​ (Lasiurus cinereus)

Silver-haired bat​ (Lasionycterus noctivagans)

Evening bat​ (Nycticeius humeralis)

Cave Bats

Eastern small-footed bat​​ (Myotis leibii)

Little brown bat ​(Myotis lucifugus)

Northern long-eared bat ​(Myotis septentrionalis)

Indiana bat ​(Myotis sodalis)

Tri-colored bat​ (Perimyotis subflavus)

Big brown bat​ (Eptesicus fuscus)

How to Support Bats and Moths at Night

🌸 Grow night-blooming native flowers like Evening Primrose and Starry Campion

🐛 Include native moth host plants like oaks, grapes, and goldenrods

🏡 Install bat houses and leave some snags or mature trees for roosting

💧 Provide water—bats drink on the wing

🌾 Avoid pesticides, especially at dusk when moths and bats are active

🍂 Leave some leaf litter and natural cover to support caterpillars and pupating moths

Why It Matters

Moths pollinate many of the same plants as butterflies and bees, especially at night—and bats depend on them for survival. By planting for moths, you create a habitat that works around the clock. It’s one of the most powerful ways to build a garden that supports both pollination and biodiversity.

Let your garden bloom into the night—because the pollinators don’t sleep, and neither does nature.

What Are Moth Host Plants?

Just like butterflies, moths lay their eggs on specific native plants their caterpillars need to survive. These include:

Here’s a list of the Top 10 Moth Host Plants Native to Maryland, based on their ability to support a high number of moth species (as caterpillar host plants), their ecological importance, and their value in supporting nocturnal pollinators and bats:

🐛 Top 10 Moth Host Plants for Maryland

White Oak (Quercus alba) [400+ moths & butterflies]

Keystone species; supports more Lepidoptera than any other tree genus. Vital for forest moth diversity.

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) [200+ species]

Host to many silk moths (Promethea, Cecropia, Io); berries feed birds.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) [20+ species]

Host plant for Henry’s Elfin and several leafroller moths. Great understory tree.

Willow (Black Willow) (Salix nigra) [300+ species]

Host to giant silkmoths (Luna, Polyphemus) and many noctuid moths. Important for wetland moth communities.

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) [100+ species]

Night-blooming species attract moths; caterpillar host and nectar source.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) [30+ species]

Supports sphinx moths and other climber specialists; also bat-favored for moth prey.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) [30–40 species]

Late-season nectar for adult moths; host plant for various geometrid moths.

Maple (Red Maple) (Acer rubrum) [200+ species]

Common in forests and urban areas; caterpillar host for noctuids and geometrids.

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) [12+ species]

Host plant for the Zebra Swallowtail and a few specialist moths. Fruits also attract wildlife.

Wild Grape (Vitis riparia, Vitis labrusca ) [70–80 species]

Moth magnet; supports large numbers of moth caterpillars, including sphinx moths. Important climbing plant for woodland edges.

🌿 Additional Excellent Host Plants:

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) – supports skipper moths and grass moths

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) – nectar for adult moths

• Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) – host to several hairstreaks and moths

• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – supports silk moths and spicebush swallowtail

• Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) – important ericaceous host

Maryland Native Night-Blooming and Nocturnal Pollinator Plants

Many Maryland native plants have evolved special traits to attract nocturnal pollinators. Their pale or white flowers, nighttime blooms, and sweet evening fragrances lure moths (and sometimes bats) after dark . For example, Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) becomes more fragrant at night, drawing in various moth species to feed on its nectar . By including such plants in gardens, we provide food for these night-flying pollinators and, indirectly, for bats that prey on the insects.

Below is a list of native Maryland herbaceous plants, shrubs, vines, and trees that either bloom at night or attract nocturnal pollinators like moths or bats:

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

Night-blooming – flowers open at dusk and bloom through the night. Nocturnal moths (especially sphinx moths); Primrose Moth uses it. Fields, roadsides, open meadows. Readily self-seeds; great for “moon gardens.” Supports nighttime pollinators and is known to attract moths that bats prey on .

Starry Campion (Silene stellata)

Evening scented – blooms stay open in evening; anthers release pollen at dusk (moth-pollination syndrome). Nocturnal moths primarily (e.g. Hadena moth)  (occasional bees by day). Woodlands, semi-shade. Whorled leaves and fringed white flowers. Host plant for Hadena ectypa moth caterpillars.   Good for naturalized shade gardens.

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Night-fragrant – flowers remain open 24 hours; scent intensifies after dark to attract moths . Nocturnal sphinx and other moths (moths pollinate at night; bees and butterflies by day) . Fields, roadsides, garden pollinator patches. Iconic monarch host plant; also supports night pollinators. Heavy, sweet fragrance in the evening draws moths (and thus feeds bats) .

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

Evening fragrance – blooms by day, but releases sweet scent on summer evenings . Night-flying hawkmoths and other moths (hover at dusk); butterflies and hummingbirds by day . Sun to partial shade gardens. Choose white or pale cultivars for moonlight visibility . Attractive nectar plant in “moon gardens” and traditional pollinator gardens alike (prone to mildew – ensure airflow).

Common Yucca (Adam’s Needle) (Yucca filamentosa)

Night-blooming – creamy white bell flowers open fully after dusk, emitting a strong odor that lures specialized moths . Yucca moths (Tegeticula spp.) – the only pollinators; these moths mate and pollinate inside the flowers at night . Sandy or dry open habitats; used in xeriscape gardens. Fascinating mutualism: yucca cannot set seed without yucca moth pollination . Flowers also attract hummingbirds and other insects (for nectar) but only moths effect pollination.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Night-friendly – white spherical flower clusters are highly fragrant, day and night. Remains open for nighttime visitors . Nocturnal moths (various species visit at night) ; butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds by day. Wetlands, stream banks, rain gardens. Excellent wildlife shrub: provides nectar for countless pollinators and is a host plant for over 25 moth species . Night-blooming garden centerpiece – perfume intensifies in evenings, which also helps feed insectivorous bats .

Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)

Evening fragrant – white, sticky flowers emit a sweet clove-like scent, especially after sunset (though open in daytime). Nocturnal moths (primary pollinators) ; also visited by butterflies and hummingbirds in daytime. Boggy woods, swamp edges (prefers moist, acidic soil). Valuable ornamental for fragrance. Moths are its primary pollinators  – an educational example of how flower scent adapts to attract night pollinators.

Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)

Evening accessible – profuse white blossoms (open in daytime) are visually conspicuous and aromatic at night, extending nectar availability. Nocturnal moths (a “moth magnet” at night, attracting moths like Ailanthus webworm moths) ; bees, wasps, butterflies by day. Thickets, streamside hedgerows; great on a trellis or fence in pollinator gardens. Fast-growing native vine with showy, fragrant white flowers. Provides cover for wildlife and is host to several moth larvae . Evening visitors make it beneficial for bats (indirectly, as they prey on the moths).

Cranefly Orchid (Tipularia discolor)

Night-blooming (functionally) – dull greenish-purple flowers open and emit scent in the evening; not showy by day. Nocturnal noctuid moths (e.g. armyworm moth Mythimna spp.) which carry pollen on their eyes . Deciduous woodland floors (rich humus soil). A cryptic native orchid; pollinated only at night by moths . Leaves appear in fall and winter, then flowers in summer when forest canopy is leafed out. Ideal for woodland garden restoration and education on specialized pollination.

How to Support Tree Bats in Your Landscape

✅ Keep or plant native deciduous trees, especially species like:

• Oaks (Quercus spp.)

• Maples (Acer spp.)

• Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

• Hickories, Sassafras, and Tulip Poplar

✅ Allow trees to grow to full height—bats prefer tall trees with:

• Open canopies for flight

• Loose bark or cavities for shelter

• A mix of sun and shade

✅ Leave snags (dead trees) when safe—they’re essential roosting sites for many bat species.

✅ Avoid topping or heavy pruning during bat breeding season (May–August) to protect maternity roosts.

✅ Plant in clusters or forest edges—tree bats often roost near open meadows or riparian corridors, where insect prey is abundant.

“A single mature oak can feed hundreds of species—and shelter a mother bat and her pups.”

Let your trees grow tall and wild—because bats call them home.

Bats and the Atlas

While the Pollinator Atlas focuses on native plants and their pollinators, bats complete the picture of Maryland’s nocturnal ecosystem. Through predation of pollinating insects, they shape which plants thrive, and by foraging along stream banks, forest edges, and gardens, they remind us that healthy landscapes require round-the-clock care.

Let your garden stay wild after dark—and the bats will thank you.

Learn More

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) – Bats of Maryland

Maryland Biodiversity Project – Bats

Bat Conservation International (BCI)

University of Maryland Extension – – Wildlife in the Garden