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Light-trap of forage looper (Caenurgina erechtea Cramer) depending on the moonlight in waxing and waning sector of the lunar month (North Carolina and Nebraska, 2001–2005).
Source publication
The present study discusses the light trapping of harmful insects depending on the moonlight, its polarized percentage, and the
moon phases. The trapping data were taken from light traps of North Carolina and Nebraska States of USA. We examined five
species. The maximum individual number of species was collected at new moon or near the first quarte...
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The present study discusses the hourly distributions of Macolepidoptera and Microlepidoptera species caught by a light-trap. The fractional type mercury vapour (125 W) light-trap had been operated by Mészáros, at Julianna-farm of the Plant Protection Institute between 1976 August and 1979 July. This trap was not in operation every night in this per...
The present study discusses the hourly distributions of Macolepidoptera and Microlepidoptera species caught by a light-trap. The fractional type mercury vapour (125 W) light-trap had been operated by Mészáros, at Julianna-farm of the Plant Protection Institute between 1976 August and 1979 July. This trap was not in operation every night in this per...
Citations
... Entomological light traps use sources of artificial light, most commonly with a strong short-wavelength component (Jonason et al. 2014;White et al. 2016;Donners et al. 2018), to sample the abundance and diversity of insect communities. Light traps have several well-established sampling biases (McDermott and Mullens 2018): they are more likely to attract nocturnal insects than diurnal insects, macromoths than micromoths (Wölfling et al. 2016; see also Somers-Yeates et al. 2013;Merckx and Slade 2014), and males than females (Altermatt et al. 2009;Garris and Snyder 2010;Degen et al. 2016); they are also less effective under natural illumination from the full moon (Williams 1936;Taylor 1986;Yela and Holyoak 1997;Nowinszky and Puskás 2012). The potential for artificial illumination to interfere with light trap efficacy, however, while repeatedly suggested (Frank 2006;Eisenbeis 2006;McDermott and Mullens 2018;Didham et al. 2020;Grenis et al. 2023; see also Verheijen 1958) has yet to be conclusively tested (but see Conrad et al. 2006). ...
... Previous attempts to correlate aerially-collected light pollution levels with moth blacklight trap catches have also failed to uncover any relationship (Conrad et al. 2006;White 2018). Given the breadth of evidence demonstrating that natural light from the full moon significantly reduces blacklight trap efficacy (Taylor 1986;Yela and Holyoak 1997;Nowinszky and Puskás 2012), the lack of correlation between artificial light and blacklight trap catch is curious. One potential explanation calls into univoltine Y. cagnagella (Altermatt and Ebert 2016) as well as a demonstrated capacity for rapid evolution in response to strong selection (Reay-Jones et al. 2020). ...
As evidence of global insect declines continues to mount, insect conservationists are becoming increasingly interested in modeling the demographic history of at-risk species from long-term survey data. However, certain entomological survey methods may be susceptible to temporal biases that will complicate these efforts. Entomological light traps, in particular, may catch fewer insects today than they once did due solely to increases in anthropogenic light pollution. Here we investigate this possibility by comparing the demographic histories of corn earworm moths (Helicoverpa zea) estimated from pairs of blacklight and pheromone traps monitored at the same farms. We find a stark decline in blacklight trap efficacy over 25 years of monitoring in Delaware, USA, mirrored over 10 years of monitoring in New Jersey, USA. While the precise causes of this decline remain a subject for discussion, the practical consequences are clear: insect conservationists cannot fully rely on long-term trends from entomological light traps.
... This observation in these Moon Quarters is attributed to the highly polarized moonlight. This confirms the results of previous studies (Nowinszky et al. 1979Danthanarayana and Dashper 1986;Nowinszky 2004Nowinszky , 2008, 2011, 2012 which have already established that the polarized moonlight helps the orientation of insects. ...
This study addresses the question whether to what extent (if any) light-trap catch of the harmful pest, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1805) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) depends on the Moon phases and the geomagnetic horizontal component (H-index). Therefore, daily relative catch data were assigned to the daily values of geomagnetic field above 0.2125⁻¹⁰ T (H-index). We correlated the daily catch results to the daily values of geometric H-index. The numbers of specimens caught and classified according to generation were calculated relative to catch values. Relative catch data were divided according to the Moon phase angle around the four Moon quarters. The relative daily catch data were assigned to the daily values of geomagnetic H-index. We correlated the daily catch results to the daily values of geometric H-index in four moon phases. More abundant catch corresponded to higher H-index values in the New Moon period. Approaching Full Moon led to increasing catch correlating to low H-index value, but there decreasing catch coincided with higher H-index values. There was also decreasing catch at the increasing H-index values in the First Quarter and Last Quarter period. The light trap catch of the H. armigera was seemingly influenced by both the moon phases and the horizontal component of geomagnetism.
... Nocturnally active aquatic insects can also be confronted with polarized light pollution when artificial night lighting is placed in proximity to roads or other artificial polarizers ). Night-active aquatic insects, then, are attracted to sources of both polarized (Horváth 2014) and unpolarized light (Nowinszky 2003;Nowinszky et al. 2012;Boda et al. 2014;Szaz et al. 2015; Figure 1). Each cue can trigger an ecological trap on its own, but might also interact in the creation of an ecological trap when night lights are placed in close proximity to artificial polarizers ( Figure 2a) if insects have not evolved an ability to partition or separate their behavioral responses within their respective navigational and habitat selection contexts. ...
... Compared to the brightness of a full moon (0.1-0.3 lux, Gaston et al. 2013), the 60-watt LEDs we used were over 2000 times brighter at a distance of 1 m (636 lux) and approximately the brightness of the moon at a distance of ~45 m. This and the fact that many widely used light traps designed for the capture of nocturnal flying insects incorporate large and white reflective surfaces like sheets or netting (Nowinszky 2003;Nowinszky and Puskás 2012) suggest a role for the interaction of color and spatial area of a light signal in navigational guidance for both terrestrial and aquatic taxa. ...
Ecological traps occur when rapid environmental change causes animals to actually prefer inferior habitats. Traps increase the likelihood of species extinction, but our understanding of how evolved behavioral algorithms interface with increasingly novel ecosystems to trigger them remains limited. Both polarized and unpolarized light are increasingly common forms of light pollution known to cause maladaptive behavior for both water-seeking and entirely terrestrial insects by maladaptively triggering innate habitat selection and navigation preferences, respectively. We designed a nocturnal, field-based experiment to investigate how diverse nocturnal insect taxa use and contextualize these cues when they are placed in evolutionarily novel proximity, and so test the hypothesis that cues that originally evolved to guide navigation behavior can enhance or hinder the ability of different nocturnal insects to avoid maladap-tive behavior within the context of habitat selection. Unpolarized light created more attractive ecological traps, even for aquatic taxa known to use polarized light as their sole habitat selection cue. We found that these cues could, in aquatic taxa, act both additively and synergistically to increase the attraction of ecological traps. While one family showed evidence of partitioning their response to these 2 forms of light within their respective behavioral contexts (navigation, habitat selection), our results indicate that the novel proximity of cues from separate behavioral contexts can act to enhance the attractiveness of ecological traps within a focal context.
... The pheromone traps that male moths collected throughout the day. As we have previously demonstrated the polarized light increases the activity of insects (Nowinszky et al, 1979, 2010a, 2010b, 2012a, 2012b, Nowinszky & Puskás 2009, 2012, 2013a, 2013b. Another possibility is that the solid particles of the pheromone molecules bind well, so the greater activity male moths need for finding the females. ...
Abstract: In this study, seven species of Microlepidoptera pest pheromone trap collection presents the results
of the everyday function of the chemical air pollutants (SO2, NO, NO2, NOx, CO, PM10, O3). Between 2004 and
2013 Csalomon type pheromone traps were operating in Bodrogkisfalud (48°10’N; 21°21E; Borsod-Abaúj-
Zemplén County, Hungary, Europe). The data were processed of following species:
Spotted Tentiform Leafminer (Phyllonorycter blancardella Fabricius, 1781), Hawthorn Red Midged Moth
(Phyllonorycter corylifoliella Hübner, 1796), Peach Twig Borer (Anarsia lineatella Zeller, 1839), European
Vine Moth (Lobesia botrana Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775), Plum Fruit Moth (Grapholita funebrana Treitschke,
1846), Oriental Fruit Moth (Grapholita molesta Busck, 1916) and Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella Linnaeus,
1758). The relation is linear, logarithmic and polynomial functions can be characterized.
Keywords: Microlepidoptera, pests, pheromone traps, air pollution
... As we have previously demonstrated the polarized light increases the activity of insects (Nowinszky et al, 1979, 2010a, 2010b, 2012a, 2012b, Nowinszky & Puskás 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013a, 2013b. Another possibility is that the solid particles of the pheromone molecules bind well, so greater activity need for finding the females by male moths. ...
Abstract: The study presents the pheromone trap collection of six Microlepidoptera
pest species connected with particulate matter (PM10) in the air. Csalomon type pheromone
traps were operating in Bodrogkisfalud (48°10’N; 21°21E; Borsod-Abaúj-
Zemplén County, Hungary, Europe) between 2004 and 2013. The data were processed
of following species: Spotted Tentiform Leafminer (Phyllonorycter blancardella Fabricius,
1781), Hawthorn Red Midged Moth (Phyllomorycter corylifoliella Hübner, 1796), Codling
Moth (Cydia pomonella Linnaeus, 1758), European Vine Moth (Lobesia botrana Denis et
Schiffermüller, 1775), Oriental Fruit Moth (Grapholita molesta Busck, 1916) and Plum
Fruit Moth (Grapholita funebrana Treitschke, 1846). According to our results pheromone
trap catch of the investigated species has positive correlation with the dust aerosol contamination
in the air. The relationship is linear and it can be characterized with logarithmic
and polynomial functions.
Keywords: Microlepidoptera, pests, pheromone traps, air pollution, particulate matter,
Hungary.
... Earlier we already published two studies. We published the beginning of swarming of Macrolepidoptera species in connection with the moon phases used the Hungarian light trap data (Nowinszky & Ekk 1988, Nowinszky 2008) and the data of North Carolina and Nebraska States of USA (Nowinszky & Puskás 2012). We established in both study that the swarming of species begins in different periods of the moon phases. ...
... This fact, that the difference of beginning of swarming in first and in the last quarters of the moon may give an explanation according to our assumption, that the polarisation of the moonlight is significantly higher around the last quarter of the moon, than in the environment of a first quarter. The polarized moonlight is in a positive contact with the flying activity of the insects (Nowinszky &Puskás, 2010 and2012). ...
Abstract: We examined the beginning of swarming of 21 Microlepidoptera species between
1969 and 1973, 73 Macrolepidoptera species between 1970 and 1973 and 93 Coleoptera
species of Prilep trap from 1971 in connection with the lunar phases. All the collecting
data originated from Becse-type light-traps. The beginning of swarming is in connection
with phase of the Moon at least with one part of Macrolepidoptera and Coleoptera
species. The most frequent case is the connection with last quarter.
Keywords: Becse-type light-trap, moths, beetles, beginning of swarming, moon phases
... However, it is clear that the proportion of the total population, which currently flying in the air, and they spent time not measured (Nowinszky, 2008). We published several new results regarding the effect of the Moon based on our own research (Nowinszky 2008;, 2011, 2012 Nowinszky et al., 2012a; Nowinszky et al., 2012b). Due to light pollution the difference between the theoretical and actual collecting distance has become basically balanced out. ...
Abstract: The paper deals with connections between light trapping of Lygus sp. and the polarized moonlight, the collecting distance and the staying of the Moon above the horizon.
... The Moon is staying above the horizon in First Quarter in the evening, the Last Quarter after midnight. In our recent study the caddisflies (Trichoptera) species led to similar results ( Nowinszky et al. 2010b;Nowinszky et al. 2012). The only swarming peak of two species can be found in New Moon. ...
... 14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7 It cannot be reason the smallest collection distance neither because we showed in our new study (Nowinszky and Puskás 2012) that the moths in the North Carolina and Nebraska (USA) in the recent past the First-and the Last Quarter fly to the greatest number of light-traps in turn in Full Moon the catch is very low. However, today this area has extremely high light pollution. ...
ABSTRACT The paper deals with light-trap catch of 23 Macrolepidoptera species depending on the moon phases. The catching data were chosen from the 22 stations of the Hungarian National Forestry Light-trap Network and from the years 1961 to 1970. Relative catch values were calculated from the catching data per stations and swarming. They are ranged and averaged in the phase angle divisions. The catching peaks of 21 species can be seen at First- and Last Quarter. Then there is the maximum ratio of polarized moonlight. Maximum catch two species is only around the New Moon, when is the greatest of collection distance. The lowest number caught for every species is at Full Moon. Keywords: light-trap Macrolepidoptera, moon phases, polarized moonlight, catching distance
... At dusk, the most species have been flying (Nowinszky et al., 2007;Nowinszky et al., 2008). It can not be a reason of the smallest collection distance neither because in our new study (Nowinszky and Puskás, 2012) we showed that the moths in the North Carolina and Nebraska (USA) in the recent past the First-and the Last Quarter fly to the greatest number of light-traps in turn in Full Moon the catch is very low. However, today in this area there is extremely high light pollution. ...
Abstract: The paper deals with light-trap catch of 25 Microlepidoptera species depending on the polarized moonlight and
collecting distance. The catching data were chosen from the 27 stations of the Hungarian National Light-trap Network and
from the years between 1959 and 1961. Relative catch values were calculated from the catching data per stations and
swarming. They are ranged and averaged in the phase angle divisions. The catching peak of ten species is in First Quarter,
another ten species have the peak in the First Quarter and Last one, and only in two cases the peak is in Last Quarter. Then
there is the maximum ratio of polarized moonlight. Catching peak of only three species is in connection with the collecting
distance when is the greatest of collection distance.
Keywords: Microlepidoptera, light-trap moon phases, polarized moonlight, catching distance.
The results of our factor analysis studies show that some features of the Sun and the Moon influence light trapping of insect collection on all the three continents.
The polarization of the night sky is used by insects for their spatial orientation. Although the polarization of the Moon at night is higher than the polarization of the Sun, there is still a closer relationship between the polarization of the Sun and the efficiency of the light-trap than the Moon produces. Perhaps, the reason for this is that the polarization from the Sun changes much less dramatically from night to night than from the Moon. It therefore provides "more reliable" information for insects.
It is also proven that the gravitational potential of celestial bodies also influences the efficiency of trapping. In cases where the negative gravity value reaches -500 μJ/kg, the insect does not have to use energy to take off up to 0.051 mm, and the resulting gravitational potential is 0. Above this value, the energy required for take-off is reduced by 5% at 1 mm rise and 0.005% at 1 m rise as the suction effect occurs. In contrast, with the same positive gravity, when the gravity of the celestial body is added to the gravity of the Earth, it requires the same amount of energy to fly.
We found that the neutral points of the sky that are above the horizon at night are also significantly related to the catch results.
Apart from our own studies, similar results have not been reported by other researchers.
The apparent illumination of the Moon and the phases of the Moon influenced the success of catch on every continent and in all groups of insects, although maximum and minimum catch appeared in different phases of the Moon.
The above mentioned characteristics influenced the efficiency of trapping on all the three continents and in all insect groups, however, other lunar features (illuminated surface ratio and moonlight) are not considered to be a widespread modifying factor, although we have not been able to justify their influence only on Australian migratory species. Although the influence of polarized moonlight has been proven by several researchers, our current investigation has only confirmed this in the case of the Australian Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera species.
However, in our opinion, this may be due to the fact that polarized moonlight is not present in the full lunar month. Therefore, its significance lags behind the other characteristics and therefore it was not classified as a significant influencing factor by factor analysis.
