Attraction to light - from how far do moths (Lepidoptera) return to weak artificial sources of light?

Abstract

Abstract. Moths are frequently used as indicators of biodiversity or habitat quality. Light traps are the most effective and widely used method for gathering data on moth communities. Knowing the distance from which moths are drawn to a light trap is therefore essential for the ecological interpretation of such data. Two community-wide mark-release-recapture experiments were carried out in forest habitats in central Europe in order to investigate whether the percentage of marked moths recaptured at weak artificial light sources (2 × 15 W UV-light tubes) is dependent on the distance they were released from the light source. Altogether 2,331 moths belonging to 167 species were caught at light traps and released at distances of 2-100 m. Of these moths 313 returned to the light trap within 5 min of release. Percentage recapture was generally low (gross rate 13.4%) and strongly decreased with increase in the distance at which they were released. Percentage recapture was not significantly affected by ambient temperature or the sex of the moths. Only for the Geometroidea was the percentage recaptured slightly greater for the larger species. We found no significant differences between moth super-families with regard to the distance dependence of their attraction to light. Our data confirm that the radius of attraction of low powered light traps for moths is very small often even below 10 m. Thus, moths are good indicators of habitat quality and fragmentation as they are rarely attracted from distant habitats to such light traps.

Out of the Dark: Establishing a Large-Scale Field Experiment to Assess the Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Species and Food Webs

“…The captured insects presumably originate not only from the immediate area, but could have been attracted by the streets lights from long distances. Typical attraction radii for flying insects described in the literature range from 3-130 m e.g., [63][64][65]. The setup with three rows of street lights parallel to the drainage ditch will be used to derive the direction of origin for some insect orders, i.e., from the drainage ditch or the forest side.…”

Pollination by nocturnal Lepidoptera, and the effects of light pollution: a review

“…2). Moths may be drawn in towards a light from several metres away (Baker & Sadovy, 1978; Truxa & Fiedler, 2012; van Grunsven et al, 2014); this might alter local moth abundance and the composition of moth assemblages both in the vicinity of lights, and in the source habitats from which attracted moths are drawn (Fig. 2: concentration and ecological trap effects).…”

Chirosurveillance: The use of native bats to detect invasive agricultural pests

“…Particularly in late summer, BMSB respond more aggressively to aggregation pheromones emitted by other individuals at overwintering sites than to light. In addition, the cone of attraction of blacklight traps is small (2-100m) attracting only individuals in close proximity of the traps [20]. In early spring, BMSB adults emerging from hibernation typically stay in hardwood trees and forests, entering the crop fields only when they are ready to lay eggs [21].…”