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Some Factors Affecting the Catches of Lepidoptera in Light Traps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

P. Belton
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Institute for Biological Control, Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Belleville, Ontario
R. H. Kempster
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Institute for Biological Control, Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Belleville, Ontario

Abstract

By comparing the number of moths caught in box-type traps, attractant light sources can be arranged in the following order of efficiency: 15-watt fluorescent rubes emitting ultraviolet and visible light > 15-watt fluorescent tubes emitting cool white light ≥ germicidal rubes behind glass > 15-watt fluorescent tubes emitting ultraviolet but little visible light ≥ 100-watt mercury-vapour bulbs emitting ultraviolet but little visible light. Noctuoid and large geometroid (sent. lat.) moths discriminate between these light sources on the basis of their spectral content, but pyraloids, other small microlepidoptera and some geometroids probably do not. Pyraloid moths escaped in significant numbers from traps with normal apertures (13/4-inch), after sunrise. They freely entered traps with narrow apertures (1/2-inch) but these traps caught fewer large moths.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1963

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