scholarly journals IX - The influence of moonlight on the activity of certain nocturnal insects, particularly of the family Noctuidae , as indicated by a light trap

For many years amateur entomologists have considered that on nights of full moon it is of little use going out to catch specimens, as insects will be few in number. This belief applies to all methods of collecting, including bait (sugaring) and light, and is supposed to apply particularly to the Lepidoptera. Scattered through the literature on Agricultural Entomology one finds occasionally references to the use of light traps for the destruction of pests, and statements, usually from the tropics, that the catches were less at times of full moon ; but so far as I am aware no proper statistical study of the question has ever been made. One of the most striking series of figures is that produced by Pagden (1932) by trapping with a light trap the two Pyralid moths Diatraea auricilia and Schoenobius incertellus which are pests of rice in Malaya. He found, between 18 January and 29 June, 1931, six periods of maximum catch in both sexes of both species corresponding more or less to the no moon periods, and six periods of minimum catch corresponding even more definitely to the full moons. Scarcely any insects were captured at the time of full moon.

1975 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. Davies

AbstractThe biting activity of Culex (Melanoconion) portesi Senevet & Abonnenc and C. (M.) taeniopus D. & K. in a secondary seasonal marsh forest in Trinidad was studied by means of catches by six mouse-baited suction traps, and a single light-trap. The traps were cleared at hourly intervals between 17.00 h and 07.00 h on nights which approximated to the new, first quarter, full and last quarter phases of the moon. The catches were compared with illumination at canopy and ground level which was estimated by selenium photocells whose output was recorded on the continuous chart of a servo-potentiometer. Humidity, rainfall, temperature and cloud cover were also recorded. In the suction traps both species showed peaks of activity at evening and dawn twilight at new moon, although the dawn peak was not very pronounced with C. taeniopus, but this pattern was modified on other nights in a manner which was consistent with moon age. At full moon the evening and dawn peaks were replaced by increased activity during moonrise and the middle of the night. The light-traps failed to show the evening and dawn activity and did not always duplicate the baited traps during darkness. Two hypotheses based on either a permissive range of illumination or an underlying circadian rhythm are discussed; neither fully explains the observed biting activity. Although an association between moonlight and biting activity does exist, an understanding of its nature will require more experimental data.


1973 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bowden ◽  
David G. Gibbs

Catches in light-traps adjoining cotton were obtained at the time of seasonal southward movement of the Inter-Tropical Front (ITF) in October, and during most of the following two months. Taxa studied were mostly Orthoptera and moths, many associated with sorghum, others long-distance migrants. Suction-trap catches at three heights up to 50 ft were obtained for short periods in October and November, and aircraft catches at 250 ft were also available on two days. Suction-trap catches of grass-feeding Homoptera suggest that displacement of these insects was associated with changes in wind direction marking movement of the ITF in October. The exact form of the displacement system in relation to the front cannot be reconstructed from catches at a single place, but it seems likely that proximity of the front at or soon after the time of a brief period of crepuscular activity stimulates insects to take flight and rise to 50 ft or more so that they are displaced. In many taxa, light-trap catches showed a regular pattern of increase, with only slight nightly fluctuations from a logarithmic trend, following full moon. Other increases were superimposed on this pattern at times when the ITF passed north of the trap site, and in some taxa particularly when it was far north. The pattern of change after full moon, shown most clearly in taxa with source populations close to the trap, was related to the moon's influence on the range of trap effectiveness. But various qualitative variations suggest that, in addition, aspects of behaviour or development may have adaptive relationships to the lunar cycle; variations include differences between taxa, particularly in timing of catch changes, and increasing proportion and decreasing maturity of females of certain taxa at the time of the regular increases in catch.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 404-409
Author(s):  
Kathirvelu C. ◽  
Ayyasamy R. ◽  
Karthikeyan M.

The present research was carried out to document the moth fauna of Annamalai Nagar during December, 2015 to November, 2016 comprising four seasons for a period of one year, from agriculture and horticulture ecosystems using light traps and host rearing methods. The sheet method was used to record moth insects individually without any damage. Any moths that alight on the screen were recorded in jars just after sunset between 18.00 – 23.00 hr. A total of 2,679 moths were recorded using all the three types of methods employed in the study. Out of which, light trap was found with maximum of 2,253 moths followed by manual collection (369) and host rearing (57) from four different sites of observation. Among the sites, light trapping of moths were observed maximum (656) in Orchard followed by Experimental farm with 629 numbers. The diversity of moths was observed in the study area of Annamalai Nagar indicated the presence of 70 genera and 56 species identified under nine superfamilies of Clades viz., Obtectomera (Pyraloidea and Thyridoidea) Macroheterocera (Noctuoidea, Bombycoidea, Geometroidea, Lasiocampoidea) Apoditrysia (Pterophoroidea and Cossoidea) Ditrysia (Tineoidea). The families namely Crambidae, Erebidae, Noctuidae, Sphingidae, Bombycidae, Uraniidae, Thyrididae, Eupterotidae, Geometridae, Pterophoridae, Lasiocampidae, Cossidae and Psychidae were observed in the study area. Out of which, the family Erebidae alone had 28 genera and 25 species and found to be the superior family. From the results, it was clear that light trapping was superior in collection of moths during night times.


1975 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bowden ◽  
Marjory G. Morris

AbstractUsing the inverse square law, estimates can be made of the distances at which illumination from a light-trap is equal to that from background sources. From these distances an index of trap radius can be constructed which can be considered as a measure of trap potential. Between new moon and full moon trap radii vary, depending upon the times of the night at which the trap may be operating, in ratios from about 10:1 to 15:1. A comparable index of light-trap catches can be calculated which allows catches to be examined in relation to changing radius of the trap. Analysis of a series of catches in Uganda and Ghana shows that many species are more abundant than expected in periods of moonlight, particularly at and near full moon, the biggest difference between new moon and full moon being about 10:1 for Marasmia trapezalis (Gn.), whereas the Isoptera, Bostrychidae and Spodoptera triturata (Wlk.) are 3–4 times more frequent at full moon. The ratios between catch at new moon and catch at full moon suggest that the primary determinant of catch is the frequency with which insects cross the boundary of a region of influence whose size is determined by a radius of equal energy. Deductions about the pattern of insect activity through a lunation, and nightly, and the general agreement between curves describing the change in radius of the trap and those of trap catches suggest that changes in catch over a lunation can be explained by changes in the effectiveness of the trap. When corrections are made to allow for such changes, all taxa show some increase in numbers in moonlit periods and in many taxa this increase is substantial. Correction of catches should take account of flight periodicity and this periodicity should, if possible, be confirmed by methods independent of light-traps.


Author(s):  
Timothy D McNamara ◽  
Thomas A O’Shea-Wheller ◽  
Nicholas DeLisi ◽  
Emily Dugas ◽  
Kevin A Caillouet ◽  
...  

Abstract West Nile virus (WNV) is the most prevalent arbovirus found throughout the United States. Surveillance of surface breeding Culex vectors involved in WNV transmission is primarily conducted using CDC Gravid traps. However, anecdotal claims from mosquito abatement districts in Louisiana assert that other trap types may be more suited to WNV surveillance. To test the validity of these assertions, we conducted a series of trapping trials and WNV surveillance over 3 yr to compare the efficacy of multiple trap types. First, we compared the CDC Gravid trap, CO2-baited New Standard Miniature Blacklight traps, and CO2-baited CDC light traps with either an incandescent light, a red light, or no light. We found that the CDC Gravid trap and CO2-baited no-light CDC Light trap collected the most mosquitoes. Second, we conducted additional, long-term trapping and WNV surveillance to compare these two trap types. We found that CO2-baited no-light CDC traps collected more of the local WNV vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Say, Diptera, Culicidae), and detected WNV with greater sensitivity. Finally, we conducted trapping to compare the physiological states of Cx. quinquefasciatus and diversity of collected mosquitoes. CO2-baited no-light CDC light traps collected more unfed Cx. quinquefasciatus while Gravid traps collected more blooded Cx. quinquefasciatus; both traps collected the same number of gravid Cx. quinquefasciatus. Additionally, we found that CO2-baited no-light CDC light traps collected a larger diversity of mosquito species than Gravid traps.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-78
Author(s):  
A.S. Sazhnev ◽  
◽  
V.V. Anikin ◽  

The article presents the results of research of the using light traps (luminescent lamp Actinic 6W) for collecting Coleoptera in the Saratov city. Entomological material was collected by the second author in the period from 1.06 to 2.10.2019. In 2019, 52 species of Coleoptera of 22 families from different ecological groups were recorded. A relatively high proportion of adventitious species remains in 17.3– 30.7% of the presented fauna was presented. For two years the 14 species of alien and cryptogenic Coleoptera species were observed, that is 24.5% of the adventive fauna of the Saratov Province. Among invasive species Attagenus smirnovi, Stegobium paniceum, Atomaria lewisi, Harmonia axyridis, Gnatocerus cornutus, and Orchestes steppensis were record for the first time in 2019. It to use bringing on light as one of the available and low-cost ways to identify alien and cryptogenic organisms in urban areas is recommended.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-352
Author(s):  
Sérgio Roberto Rodrigues ◽  
Anderson Puker

Coleoptera of the family Geotrupidae play an important ecological role in the decomposition of animal and plant organic matter. In Brazil there is little information on the diversity and distribution of this group, thus, this work had a purpose to study Geotrupidae species, occurring in Aquidauana, MS. A survey for geotrupids was conducted in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Beetles were captured using a light trap over a period of two years, from January 2006 to December 2007. A total of 907 specimens were collected and identified to eight species. From the subfamily Bolboceratinae, the species identified were Bolbapium minutum (Luederwaldt, 1929) and Pereirabolbus castaneus (Klug, 1845). In the subfamily Athyreinae the species identified were Athyreus bilobus Howden & Martínez, 1978, Parathyreus aff. bahiae, Neoathyreus aff. julietae, N. sexdentatus Laporte, 1840, N. centromaculatus (Felsche, 1909) and N. goyasensis (Boucomont, 1902). Four species (A. bilobus, N. centromaculatus, N. goyasensis and P. castaneus) are reported for the first time in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil. The most abundant species, representing 85.9% of the total capture, was B. minutum. The greatest numbers of specimens was caught from October to December of both years of the study.


1971 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Bransby-Williams

Cotton stainers (Dysdercus spp.) are members of the family Pyrrhocoridae and many are pests of cotton throughout the tropics. Ten species are found in Africa (Pearson, 1958). Three of these have been established in colonies at Arusha, Tanzania. They are D. cardinalis Gerst., D. fasciatus Sign. and D. nigrofasciatus Stål.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Roni Koneri

POLA POPULASI KUMBANG LUCANID (COLEOPTERA:LUCANIDAE) PADA BERBAGAI TIPE HABITAT DI HUTAN GUNUNG SALAK,  JAWA  BARAT Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pola populasi kumbang lucanid di hutan Gunung Salak. Data populasi kumbang lucanid diperoleh dengan menggunakan perangkap lampu (light trap). Penelitian dilaksanakan di kawasan hutan Gunung Salak dan berlangsung dari bulan Mei 2004 sampai Desember 2005. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kelimpahan populasi di alam mencapai puncaknya pada bulan April dan Mei. Spesies yang selalu muncul setiap bulan selama pengamatan adalah Cyclomatus canaliculatus, Prosopocoilus astocoides dan Hexarthrius buqueti. Kata kunci: Gunung Salak, kumbang lucanid, populasi. Population Pattern of Lucanid Beetle in Different Habitat Type at Salak Mountain, West Java Absract The objectives of the research were to study temporal dynamic pattern of Lucanid beetle in different habitat type. Research was conducted between May 2004 and December 2005. Beetles were surveyed by using light traps in three different forest types. Results have indicated that temporal dynamic pattern of  Lucanid beetle was affected by forest disturbance level.  Highest number of Lucanid beetles were  recorded in April dan May. Species which always emerge each month during perception is Cyclomatus canaliculatus, Prosopocoilus astocoides and Hexarthrius buqueti. Keywords: Salak mountain, lucanids beetle, population.


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