Effects of moonlight and meteorological factors on light and bait trap catches of noctuid moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The effects of moon-phase and meteorological factors on activity of adult noctuid moths were investigated using light and bait traps in southern Spain for 170 nights (2 sampling years). The number of individuals caught in the light trap increased with temperature and decreased with the fullness of the moon. The effect of temperature on flight activity was similar between light and bait traps. The total number of individuals 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 light trap catch varied 6- to 9-fold because of changes in temperature. Moonlight and cloud cover caused light trap captures to vary approximate to 2-fold. Bait trap records were at least as strongly affected by meteorological factors. No significant differences in effects of moonlight and meteorological factors on trap catch were detected between years. The strength of environmental effects on trap catch make it difficult to obtain an accurate record of both community composition and the abundance of individual species.