L. NowINsZKYl*, GY. BÜRGES2, B' HERCZIG 3 and J. PUSKÁS l
i Berzsenyi Dániel Col|ege, P.O. Box l70, H.970l Szombathc|y, Hungary 2 Georgikon Faculty otAglioulturc, Pannon Univcrsity, Kcszthely, Hungary
] Komárom County Plurt Protection Service, Thta, Hungary (ReceiverJ: 22lanuary 20O8; accepted: l0April 2008)
Wc made a'n exatnination using thc tJata of highcr and lowcr light{raps of Talcal, Rczi and Kecskcnrét.
We made comparison bctwccn thc catch and the nxnn phascs.
our tcsults, got from the data of Kecskemét light-trap' prove thc proportion of caught samples both of fall wcbworm (Hypfutntria cunea Drury) and of turnip moth (Sr:otln segelun Schiff..y is the most cquable at the lower and higher lcvcls at the tinre of [ull moon.
The proportion of Microlepidoptcra individuirls (Tarcal), caught by lowcr anrl higher light-traps at Tar-cal' is the higlrcst at new moon, but it is higher at íull moon than at lirsL and last quartcr and the proportirln of caught spccies numbcr is also similar.
The proportíon of Macrolcpidoptera iIidividuals (Rczi). caught by lower and highcr traps is higlrest irr the last quarter, the lowcst in llrst quarter and at full nroon. The proportion ofcaught species shows similar but more strikingly mtrked picture.
Kcywords: light.trap, ílrsccts, m()on phases, flying hcight.
Great many researchers have been studying the question of the height at which in-sect's fly. A clarification of the issue trom the point of view of plant protection prognosis assumes special significance if there is sufficient evidence to prove that the height of flight is aff'ected by the phases of the Moon. El-Ziady (195'7) believes in the likelihood of insects flying higher at the time of a full Moon, so the catch is lower at this time than at other Moon quarters. He backed his assumption by the catch results of a suction ffap placed at a height of l0 m. Earlier Williams (1936) found lower catch at f'ull Moon. He thought it was because of the smaller gathering distance or moonlight has a direct influence on activity and reduces the number of flying insects. After more decades, there is not any recognised an-swer to this question.
Williams (1939) who used lighttraps placed at distances of 2 and l0 m from the surface of the ground was a fbrerunner in examining the vertical dispersion of nocturnal in-sects. Taylor and Brown (1972) have found that some species fly in greater numbers to a light.trap placed higher (l2 m)' whí]e others prefer traps at a lower height (1 m). Callahan et al. (1972) collected insects with I 5 UV light-traps positioned at different levels going up
'F Conosponrling author; r:-mail: lnowinszky@gmail.com
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194 Nowinszk, et al.: Flying height of insects
to 320 m of a t'elevision tower. The highest numbeÍ of ntoths was trapped at heights of 7.25 m. From 83-320 m, the dispersion was close on even, but a remarkably higher number of moths were trapped in zones between the red light signals. More than halves of the insects of the 35 families of 9 orders of insects trapped were Helothis zea Boddie specimens. The ratio of this species at32} m was 827o, stunningly high. Sony their results were not exam-ined in relationship with Moon phases. Taylor et al. (1979) captured migratory moths with light-traps of an identical type placecl at heights of 0.6 and 24.5 m, respectively, from ground surface in Kenya. The catch of the trap placed high was but a fraction of the one placed low. This proportion is 1: I 1.4 in the case of the turnip moth (Scotia sesetum Schiff.).
Aly (1990a) operated two Robinson type light-traps. These traps were put in 1.5 m and 1 8.5 m height from the ground. He examined the success oflight trapping of Paederus alJierii Koch (Staphylinidae: Coleoptera) in connection with the four moon quarters. The catch of lower trap was better at the time of new moon than full moon, but the difference was not significant in the higher one. Aly (1990b) showed in the catch of Gryllus domes-ticus L. (Gryllidae: Orthoptera) on the I .5 m height trap, the light-trap catch is higher at new moon than full moon in summer of 1983. This event cannot be seen in the catch of 18.5 m high trap. Aly and Shafi (1991) did not notice significant difference at the different moon quarters in the catch of Computotos maculatus aegyptiocus Em (Formicidae: Hy-menoptera) at 1.5 m height. The lighrtrap catch was more successful during fall months at full moon in 18.5 m height.
There were operated two Jermy-type light-traps by Vojnits and Voigt (1971) at Tar-cal at experimental yard of Research Institute tbrViticulture and Aenology. The light source was a 100 W normal electric bulb in both trap. One trap was put between to the grape line, the height was about L5 m and the other was at the encl of the line in 2.5 m height. The dis-tance was about 15 m betr.veen these traps. There were determined not only grape moths, but also other Microlepidoptera species. Generally, the lower trap caught more specimen as the higher one, but the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) was caught in higher number by the upper trap.
There were three fractional light traps in operation between 1967 and 1969 in Kecskemét operated by Járfás. These traps were put in three different heights and there Were separatecl in every hour. The light sources of fractional light-trap weÍe three fluores-cent lamps (F-33 type, 40 W). Their length was 120 cm, and they were above one another.
Járfás published the catch of different levels of several species, but he did not examine the causes of differences (Járfás' l 979).
It was shown in a latter study (Biirgés et al., 2003) the specimen number of migrant moths is highest just at Í'ull moon in low trap, so their flight activity is high during this time. Bürgés (|99,7) published separately the Macrolepidoptera catch for each family using the data in lower and higher trap at Rezi. Most of species were caught in both traps, but the higher caught more number of insect as the lower one. The exception was only in case of Geometridae and Notodontidae families. Herczig and Bürgés (l981) operated two light-traps in a closed stand of chestnut and oak near the village of Rezi, in the mountain range of Keszthely. Both traps were outfitted with 125 W HGL bulbs. One of the traps was placed at a height of 2 m from ground surface, the other at a height of l0 m in the canopy of a
Acta Plrytopathologica et Entontctlogir:a Hungtrrica 44, 2009
Nowinszlqt et al.: Flying height ofinsects 195
chestnut tree. The two traps worked at a distance of 100 m from each other. The trap work-ing at 10 m captivated four times as many migratory moths than the one operatwork-ing at2 n.
The trap high up also caught species not breeding in the surroundings.
Material
We could use the whole Microlepidoptera data of traps at Tarcal. We thank for these data to Zoltán Mészáros'
Earlier József Járfás gave the fractional trap data of Kecskemét-Katonatelep (be-tween 1 967 and I 969) to use in our corporate studies. There are data of fall webworm (t/y-phantriu cunea Drury), turnip moth (Scotia segetunx SchifT.) and European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) in it hourly separated according to the levels (Table I ).
We used the whole Macrolepidoptera catch data traps at Rezi (in 1976, 1978 and I979),but only those nights were examined when both traps were in operation.
Methods
We used in earlier study (Nowinszky, 2003) 30 phase angle groups, calculated 360 phase angle values of the full lunation. Now we made only 10 phase angle groups, because we had less light-trap catch data. There were 12 phase angle in every phase angle groups in former study. Now we had 36 ones, because we contracted three groups, but the nota-tion was the same so we could compaÍe with the former results' The notanota-tion of phase angle group with full moon (0", or rather 360o + l8') is 0. There are group notations -3, -6, -9 and*12 from this one to new moon through the first quarter. There are group notations 3, 6, 9 and 12 from full moon to new moon through the last quarter. The phase angle group containing new moon is + 15. The first moon quarter belongs to -6 group and last rnoon quarter belongs to *6 one.
Table 1
The catch data of examined species at different levels of fractional light-trap in Kecskemétbetween |967 and 1969
H y p hant r id cluxea Dr UÍy Scotia segetwn Schilf Osrinia nubilulis Hbl.
Actu Phytr4tttthologicil et Entofiloktgic'a Hungark:ct 44, 2009
196 Nowinszk"v et al.: Flying height of itrsects
We took into consideration only those hourly data from Kecskemét ligh-trap during the examination, which had successful catch at least one trap. The number of caught spec-imen on each level was calculated hourly as a percental value of the whole number of in-sect was caught in the three traps. The percental data of examined species were categorized hourly and for every level into the above-mentioned phase angle groups, then they were summarized and averaged. The catch results were very similar in median and upper level so they weÍe contracted and after it, we made a comparison between these results and catch in the lower trap.
We worked up according to the same method the Microlepidoptera and Macrolepi-doptera data caught by light-traps at Tarcal and Rezi. We made the examinations using the contracted data ofall species and nof with separated for each species, because ofthe rela-tively not too much catch. We used only those data, when both traps were in operation. We assigned the number of caught individuals to the phase angle group of that night. We sum-marized the number of trapped individuals belonging to each phase angle group. We cal-culated the percental rate of individual number of lower and higher trap. We illustrated the results in the same way in all cases.
Results
There are shown the specimen rate of fall webworm (Hyphantria ctnea Drury), turnip moth (Scotia segetum Schiff.) and European corn borer (Ostrin.ia ruhilalis Hbn.), caught by the lower ancl higher light-traps, in Flgs l, 2 and 3. The results of Microlepi-doptera and MacrolepiMicrolepi-doptera species from Tarcal and Rezi are shown in Figs 4 and 5.
Discussion
our results, got from the data of Kecskemét light-trap, prove the proportion of caught samples of both fall webworm (H v-phantria cunea Drury) and turnip moth (Scotia segetlrm Schiff.) is the most equable at the lower and higher levels at the time of full moon.
These species fly in high propoltion to 121 and 360 cm levels during full moon, than at the time of other moon phases. The proportion of caught specimen of European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) is highest just at full moon time in lower and higher levels. One reason can be insects fly in the air above 360 cm this time, but it can be also supposed they fly in great number near the ground level. We cannot decide from the data which reason is correct.
The proportion of Microlepidoptera individuals, caught by lower and hígher lighr traps at Tarcal, is the highest at new moon, but it is higher at full moon than at first and last quarter and the proportion of caught species number is also similar.
The proportion of Macrolepidoptera individuals, caught by lower and higher traps is highest in the last quarter, the lowest in first quarter and at full moon. The proportion of caught species shows similar but more strikingly marked picture.
Acxt Ph1,topatholog,ica et Entontologi.c'a Hungttrica 44, 2009
o
0
0 o
rí
j
Nowinszky et al.: Flying height of insects
/-\
--r- i
1-- \--
-?a
/\
-ra I \\\\--
--)zn
Phases groups of the Moon l-Low - -High I
Fig. 2. Percentages of the individuals of the turnip moth (Scotlc Segetutn Schiff .) at the low and high |eve|s of Játfás.type light-trap in connection with the phases groups
of the Moon (Kecskemét, |967-1969)
0,1
0.000
Phases groups of the Moon l-Lor4, - -t{ighl
Fig. 1. Percentages of the individuals of the fall webworm noth (Hyplnntritt cunea Drury) at the low and high levels oí Járfás-type |ight-trap in connection with the phases grorrps of the Moon
(Kecskemét, 196"7 _1 969)
0.500
0.400
0.300
0.200
Acta Ph.,-tr4tathologica et Entomologica Hungarit:a 44, 2009
l9tt Nowinszklt et al.: Flying height of ittsects
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Phases groups of the Moon l_Lo* _- - Hrsh-]
Fig. 3. Percentages of the individuals of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) at the low and high levels of Járfás-type light-trap in connection with the phases groups
of the Moon (Kecskemét, |967-1969)
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0,r o 0.00
-r5 -'t2 -9 -5 -3 0 3 6 9 12 r5
Phases groups of the Moon l-Lo'r-- -Hishl
Fig. 4. Percentages of the índividuals of Micro|epidoptera individua|s caught
at the low and high light-traps in connection with the phases groups of the Moon (Tarcal, I 965-1 968)
Acta Ph1ltopathologica et Eníomologica Hungttrica 44, 2009
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Nowirt,szky et al.: Flying height of insects 199
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.:
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Fig. 5. Percentages of the individuals of Macrolepidoptera individuals caught at the low and high |ight-lraps in connection with the phases groups o|. the Moon (Rezi, l97ó, 1978, 1979)
Of course, the behaviour of some Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera species can differ from the results got fiom the summarised data. It would be very important to put into operation light-traps in different higher levels at some observing stations and during longer period. It can be taken into consideration during making the plant protection fore-cast if there would be a proof, the individuals of several species fly in higher number in var-ious heights during the time of different moon phases.
Literature
Aly,M.Z.Y- (1990a): Seasonal cffect of moonlight on the vcrtical distributionof Paedents a/fzrll Koch (Staphylin-idac: Colcoptcra). Bull. Soo. Ent. Egypte, 69,l-9.
A|y' M. Z. Y. (1990b): Seasclnal fluctuation and the ef|ect of rrroonlight on thc flight ac1iviÍy <lÍ GtyIIus domesti-cus L. (Gryllidac: 0rthoptera). Bu|l Fac' Sci' Assiut. Univ. l9, ló5_l 75.
Aly' M. Z. Y. and Sha|r, M. R. A' (l991): Seasonal distribution and influence oÍ'moonlight on the flight aclivity oÍ Com1lonotus maculates aegyptiat:usEm' (Formicidae : Hymcnop|"eÍa). Bull. Fac' Sci. Assiut. Univ. 20, 39-49.
Bürgés' Gy. (l997): Light.trap catch dcpending on the power, colour and hcight on the light sourccs (itr Hungar.-ian) 4th Hungarian Ecologictü Congrcss. Pócs. 43.
Bürgés' Gy.' Nowinszky, I-., Herczig, B.' Tóth' Gy' ind Puskás' J. (2003): Thc VeÍtical dispersion trf insects' In: [,.
Nowinszky (cd.): The Hurtlbookof Light Trapping. Savaia Univcrsity Press, Szombathely, pp. 195-198.
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El-Ziady, S. (1957): A probatrlc etfcct ofthc moonlight on thc vertical distribution ofDiptera. Bull. Soc. Ent.
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Jírrfás, J. (|979): Forecasting of harmfu| moths by light.traps (in Hung;rrian)' Ph.D. Thcsis. Keoskcmót. 127 p.
Nowinszky, L. (2003): Thc moon. In: L. Nowinszky (ecl.): The Hanclbook of Light Trapping. Savaria University Prcss, Szombathcly, pp. l0tl-125.
Taykl1 I'. R. and Brown, E. S. (1972): RÍl.ects of |ight.trap dcsign and illumination on samp|es of moths in the Kenya highlands. Bull. Ent. Res. 62, 9l-112.
Taylor, L. R., Br<lwn, E. S. and Littlewood, S. C. (l979): The effect of size on the height of ílight of migrant moths. Bull' Ent. Rcs. 69' 605-ó09.
Vojnits, A. and Voigt, E. (1971): A comparative study of Microlepidoptcra dcriving from lighrtraps at low and high altitudes (in Hungarian). Fol. Ent. Hung.24,219-228.
Williams, C' B. (l936): The inlluencc clÍ moonlight on the activity of certain nocturnal insects, particu|ar|y of the family of Noctuidac as inclicated by light-trap. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lontlon. 8.,226,357-389.
Willituns, C. B. (1 939): An analysis of four years capturcs of insects in a lighltrap. Part I. General survey: sex flight. Trans. Roy. Ent. Soc. London. 89,79-132.
Acta Phytopathctlogica et Entonrologica Hwtgarica 44, 2009
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-L. Nowinszky: Nocturnal illumination and night flying insects
APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2(1): 17–52.
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