EFFECTS OF MOONLIGHT AND METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS ON LIGHT AND BAIT TRAP CATCHES OF NOCTUID MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE)

Authors
Citation
Jl. Yela et M. Holyoak, EFFECTS OF MOONLIGHT AND METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS ON LIGHT AND BAIT TRAP CATCHES OF NOCTUID MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE), Environmental entomology, 26(6), 1997, pp. 1283-1290
Citations number
71
Categorie Soggetti
Agriculture,Entomology
Journal title
ISSN journal
0046225X
Volume
26
Issue
6
Year of publication
1997
Pages
1283 - 1290
Database
ISI
SICI code
0046-225X(1997)26:6<1283:EOMAMF>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
The effects of moon-phase and meteorological factors on activity of ad ult noctuid moths were investigated using light and bait traps in sout hern Spain for 170 nights (2 sampling years). The number of individual s caught in the light trap increased with temperature and decreased wi th the fullness of the moon. The effect of temperature on flight activ ity was similar between light and bait traps. The total number of indi viduals recorded in the bait trap was not affected by fullness of the moon. Increased cloud cover increased catches in light traps, but not bait traps. Bait trap records were lower on windy nights. Average ligh t trap catch varied 6- to 9-fold because of changes in temperature. Mo onlight and cloud cover caused light trap captures to vary approximate to 2-fold. Bait trap records were at least as strongly affected by me teorological factors. No significant differences in effects of moonlig ht and meteorological factors on trap catch were detected between year s. The strength of environmental effects on trap catch make it difficu lt to obtain an accurate record of both community composition and the abundance of individual species.