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
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.