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The bogong moth, Agrotis infusa, an endemic noctuid moth of Australia, is known for its extensive long‐distance movement and summer aestivation in the Australian Alps. Recent studies have focused on moth activity in the Alps, but there are limited data for other regions. This study aims to build on the current understanding of bogong moth movement and breeding patterns using unpublished historical data across eastern Australia. We analysed historical data from moth traps in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA) from the 1960s to early 1990s. The study employed the HYSPLIT model for trajectory analysis of moth flight paths and DARABUG2 for phenological modelling. We examined moth catches across different seasons to infer movement patterns, breeding sources and over‐summering activity. Our findings question several long‐standing assumptions about the spatial ecology of the bogong moth. The trajectory analysis suggests that many aspects of A. infusa movement can be explained via dynamic migration, without fully relying on inherent navigation abilities. Important breeding areas may be beyond the self‐mulching clays of NSW and southern Queensland and include far western NSW, south and central SA and southern Victoria. Substantial moth activity during summer in many traps suggests alternative over‐summering strategies including local breeding or even aestivation in areas other than the Alps. Furthermore, the autumn and winter data imply return migrations from diverse source areas and potential local breeding, expanding the understanding of the moth's life cycle beyond a univoltine pattern. In conclusion, the bogong moth appears to exhibit a more complex and adaptable migration and breeding strategy than previously understood, utilising a range of habitats across eastern Australia for breeding and possibly aestivation. This underscores the need for a revised understanding of bogong moth ecology, which is crucial for its conservation and management, especially considering its recent classification as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the relative and combined effectiveness of seaweed rafts and light traps in attracting juvenile fish, focusing on diel variations in juvenile fish assemblage in the tropical coastal waters of Gaolong Bay, Wenchang City, Hainan Province. Sampling was conducted in May 2023 during various time periods using self-made artificial drifting seaweed rafts and light traps. The nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis was employed to compare the diversity and catch per unit effort of juvenile fish across different time periods and sampling methods. The Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance, heatmaps, and Principal Coordinates Analysis were used to analyze and visualize the differences between juvenile fish assemblages. Our findings indicate that light traps were particularly effective during nocturnal periods, capturing a diverse array of species and achieving the highest richness and evenness indices. Seaweed rafts demonstrated the lowest diversity indices, largely due to the dominance of specific species, which likely contributed to the competitive exclusion of other species. Seaweed rafts showed significant effectiveness during noon, providing critical habitat and shelter that attracted juvenile fish despite the lower diversity. While each method demonstrated specific advantages, their combined approach did not significantly improve juvenile fish aggregation compared to the individual method. These findings underscore the importance of considering diel and tidal cycles in the selection of sampling methods, as aligning the method with the time of day can greatly enhance the accuracy of biodiversity assessments, leading to more informed conservation and management strategies for tropical coastal waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phototaxis is exhibited by phototrophic organisms such as insects. They move toward the light source to take advantage of the energy necessary for photosynthesis. This paper aims to investigate phototactic insects: seasonal abundance and diversity in built environments in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria using appropriate standard techniques. The result showed that a total of 1,587 insects belonging to sixteen insect orders were found to be phototactic in built environments. The highest number of insects was collected in site B (44.87%). The result shows that Diptera (42.66%), Hemiptera (24.26%), and Coleoptera (13.11%) had the highest relative abundance. The order Coleoptera was the most diverse group with 12 families and 19 species. The highest mean number of insects was recorded in the wet season (27.87±14.425%) compared to the dry season (6.02±3.226). Most notably, the abundance of phototactic insects collected in built environments Awka was higher during the wet season across all three sites. The correlation analysis revealed that there was no significant positive relationship between ambient temperature, relative humidity, and the abundance of phototactic insects during both the wet (ambient temperature, (r = 0.29, P> 0.05; r = 0.586, P> 0.05) and dry seasons (r = 0.557, P> 0.05; r = 0.612, P> 0.05)). The study revealed a significant difference in the abundance of phototactic insect species among the three sites in Awka. The wet season recorded a higher abundance of insects compared to the dry season. Despite seasonal fluctuations in mean temperature and relative humidity, these environmental variables do not appear to have a deterministic influence on the abundance of phototactic insects in the studied locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are pivotal components of ecosystems, contributing significantly to ecological processes, agriculture, biodiversity, and human well-being. They inhabit all types of habitats and play key roles in the function and stability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Keeping in mind the diverse and characteristic features of insects, the current study was designed to investigate insect diversity in one of the important areas, the Multan district (Punjab, Pakistan), focusing on seven insect orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Blattodea, and Neuroptera. Data were collected using ten light traps over a three-year period (2019–2021). A total of 43 insect species were identified across the selected orders. Among these, the highest species richness was observed in Coleoptera, with 18 species, followed by Lepidoptera (nine species), Hemiptera (seven species), Orthoptera (four species), Neuroptera (three species), and Blattodea (one species). Coleoptera exhibited the highest diversity, richness, and evenness among the studied orders. Temperature was noted to have a profound influence on the distribution and population density of insects. The range of recorded temperatures (20 °C to 30 °C) correlated with the prevalence of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. In terms of habitat, forested areas exhibited the highest insect diversity, while areas under agricultural cultivation near urban centers demonstrated the lowest diversity. This study provides insight into the diverse insect community in the Multan district and emphasizes the need for systematic conservation efforts. The findings underscore the importance of preserving rare species while addressing pest management strategies for more abundant species. Such understanding is crucial for maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems and sustaining both ecological and agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phototaxis is exhibited by phototrophic organisms such as insects. They move toward the light source to take advantage of the energy necessary for photosynthesis. This paper aims to investigate phototactic insects: seasonal abundance and diversity in built environments in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria using appropriate standard techniques. The result showed that a total of 1,587 insects belonging to sixteen insect orders were found to be phototactic in built environments. The highest number of insects was collected in site B (44.87%). The result shows that Diptera (42.66%), Hemiptera (24.26%), and Coleoptera (13.11%) had the highest relative abundance. The order Coleoptera was the most diverse group with 12 families and 19 species. The highest mean number of insects was recorded in the wet season (27.87±14.425%) compared to the dry season (6.02±3.226). Most notably, the abundance of phototactic insects collected in built environments Awka was higher during the wet season across all three sites. The correlation analysis revealed that there was no significant positive relationship between ambient temperature, relative humidity, and the abundance of phototactic insects during both the wet (ambient temperature, (r = 0.29, P> 0.05; r = 0.586, P> 0.05) and dry seasons (r = 0.557, P> 0.05; r = 0.612, P> 0.05)). The study revealed a significant difference in the abundance of phototactic insect species among the three sites in Awka. The wet season recorded a higher abundance of insects compared to the dry season. Despite seasonal fluctuations in mean temperature and relative humidity, these environmental variables do not appear to have a deterministic influence on the abundance of phototactic insects in the studied locations.

Field studies were conducted in the Sharya-Duhok / Kurdistan Region of Iraq to evaluate the influence of different light colors, three installation heights, and three types of traps on the capture of the tomato leaf miner moth. The light colors tested were yellow, white, green, blue and red. The trap installation heights were 70, 100, and 130 cm above ground level. The traps included a delta trap, a water trap and a new combined pheromone-equipped sticky light trap, referred to as the GLT trap. Results indicated that the white light was significantly more attractive to the tomato leaf miner, capturing 32% of the total moths, followed by the yellow, blue, green and red light with percentages (27, 22, 13, 6%), respectively. This significantly differed from traps installed at heights of 70 cm captured 70% of the total number caught, and it differed statistically from the traps installed at a height of 100 and 130 cm, which captured 19 and 11%, respectively, this suggests that moth flight activity is concentrated at the plant canopy level. The GLT trap demonstrated remarkable superiority over other trap types, capturing 52% of the total moths, significantly differing from the delta and water traps, which captured 37% and 11%, respectively. This suggests that exploiting the pest's behaviors, such as using the GLT trap, could be a promising approach to managing the pest in infested fields within a short period, complementing chemical control methods.

This study evaluates the relative and combined effectiveness of seaweed rafts and light traps in attracting juvenile fish, focusing on diel variations in juvenile fish assemblage in the tropical coastal waters of Gaolong Bay, Wenchang City, Hainan Province. Sampling was conducted in May 2023 during various time periods using self-made artificial drifting seaweed rafts and light traps. The nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis was employed to compare the diversity and catch per unit effort of juvenile fish across different time periods and sampling methods. The Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance, heatmaps, and Principal Coordinates Analysis were used to analyze and visualize the differences between juvenile fish assemblages. Our findings indicate that light traps were particularly effective during nocturnal periods, capturing a diverse array of species and achieving the highest richness and evenness indices. Seaweed rafts demonstrated the lowest diversity indices, largely due to the dominance of specific species, which likely contributed to the competitive exclusion of other species. Seaweed rafts showed significant effectiveness during noon, providing critical habitat and shelter that attracted juvenile fish despite the lower diversity. While each method demonstrated specific advantages, their combined approach did not significantly improve juvenile fish aggregation compared to the individual method. These findings underscore the importance of considering diel and tidal cycles in the selection of sampling methods, as aligning the method with the time of day can greatly enhance the accuracy of biodiversity assessments, leading to more informed conservation and management strategies for tropical coastal waters.

Field studies were conducted in the Sharya-Duhok / Kurdistan Region of Iraq to evaluate the influence of different light colors, three installation heights, and three types of traps on the capture of the tomato leaf miner moth. The light colors tested were yellow, white, green, blue and red. The trap installation heights were 70, 100, and 130 cm above ground level. The traps included a delta trap, a water trap and a new combined pheromone-equipped sticky light trap, referred to as the GLT trap. Results indicated that the white light was significantly more attractive to the tomato leaf miner, capturing 32% of the total moths, followed by the yellow, blue, green and red light with percentages (27, 22, 13, 6%), respectively. This significantly differed from traps installed at heights of 70 cm captured 70% of the total number caught, and it differed statistically from the traps installed at a height of 100 and 130 cm, which captured 19 and 11%, respectively, this suggests that moth flight activity is concentrated at the plant canopy level. The GLT trap demonstrated remarkable superiority over other trap types, capturing 52% of the total moths, significantly differing from the delta and water traps, which captured 37% and 11%, respectively. This suggests that exploiting the pest's behaviors, such as using the GLT trap, could be a promising approach to managing the pest in infested fields within a short period, complementing chemical control methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam's oldest marine protected area, the Con Dao Archipelago, hosts a high diversity of fishes, but they are not taken into account in its management. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal diversity of fishes is critical to identify the ecological functions of protected habitats, including as nurseries and feeding grounds. One way to assess diversity is using light traps that target young fish stages.Fish were collected monthly from June 2016 to May 2017 using light traps in three main habitats: seagrass beds, coral reefs and the harbour. Morphometry and DNA barcoding were used to identify the species caught.A total of 11,293 fish were collected, of which 1,248 were barcoded and assigned to 158 species belonging to 81 genera and 34 families, evidence that coral reefs and seagrass beds in Con Dao marine protected area (MPA) are home to a highly diverse and abundant community of fish species. Species richness and Shannon diversity indices did not differ significantly among sampling sites, but both species composition and diversity indices differed in the wet and dry seasons. The abundance of fish was related to sea water temperatures, which varied significantly depending on the month. During the dry season, fish diversity peaked in April, when the water temperature was highest.Conserving fish in Con Dao MPA is important not only for the characterization of the trophic network in coral reefs and seagrass beds but also for preservation of coral reef ecosystems and endangered species. Ensuring connectivity between coral reefs and seagrass beds in Con Dao MPA would facilitate fish conservation but, at present, the MPA only focuses on protecting fragmented habitats that are home to a number of endangered mammal species. Local authorities should establish a continuum of protected areas along coastal habitats and seasonal controls on fishing as part of sustainable management of MPAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps are widely used for sampling mosquitoes. However, this trap, manufactured in the USA, poses challenges for use in sub-Saharan Africa due to procurement costs and shipping time. Traps that are equally efficient than the CDC light trap, but which are amenable for use in remote African settings and made in Africa, are desirable to improve local vector surveillance. This study evaluated a novel solar-powered light trap made in South Africa (Silver Bullet trap; SB), for its efficiency in malaria vector sampling in western Kenya. Methods Large cage (173.7 m3) experiments and field evaluations were conducted to compare the CDC-incandescent light trap (CDC-iLT), CDC-UV fluorescent tube light trap (CDC-UV), SB with white diodes (SB-White) and SB with UV diodes (SB-UV) for sampling Anopheles mosquitoes. Field assessments were done indoors and outdoors following a Latin square design. The wavelengths and absolute spectral irradiance of traps were compared using spectrometry. Results The odds of catching a released Anopheles in the large cage experiments with the SB-UV under ambient conditions in the presence of a CDC-iLT in the same system was three times higher than what would have been expected when the two traps were equally attractive (odds ratio (OR) 3.2, 95% confidence interval CI 2.8–3.7, P

The Jamaican species of the uraniid subfamily Epipleminae have been poorly studied. Only two species, a Calizzia and an Erosia, have been documented from Jamaica in recent species lists. Eight genera are now recognized from Jamaica from the present study. Records of Epipleminae from Florida and the Greater Antilles are tabulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect diversity has been decreasing significantly during the past decades. A main driver causing this negative trend is agricultural intensification, which causes habitat destruction and a deterioration of habitat quality. We caught flying arthropods with 28 Malaise traps and two light traps across a heterogeneous Central European agro-environment in southern Germany over a period of four years. The arthropods captured with Malaise traps were assigned to barcode index numbers (BINs) based on metabarcoding. Lepidopterans caught with light traps and light towers were identified based on morphological characters. Within the four years study, a total of 11,984 insect operational taxonomic units (OTUs) related to unique BINs on BOLD (> 95% similarity) were recorded across this agro-environment. 7835 of them could be assigned to insect order and the vast majority of them represent different species. Different estimates of the total species richness ranged between 8188 and 11,512 OTUs (a proxy for species). This number corresponds to about 26–36% of the total German insect fauna. Light trapping also yielded a high species diversity and returned 502 Lepidoptera species (compared to 784 species captured with Malaise traps). The overlap between light and Malaise traps was less than 45%. The Malaise trap catches showed that insects are more diverse along forest edges than in the centre of meadows. Our findings underline the high value of heterogeneous agro-environments for biodiversity, and the high value when combining data collected with different sampling techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on comparison of two different light traps in an organic farming system was conducted in J-block of GKVK campus maintained by Research Institute on Organic Farming (RIOF), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka for understanding the proportion of pest and non-pest species of insects caught in a Solar light trap and an electric White LED light trap, by evaluating the various ecological functional groups of trapped insects. The experiment was conducted in the organic farm, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, India. The study was conducted over a period of 7 months from February 2022 to August 2022 in 14 days interval. The two traps were placed at a distance of 700 meters and run simultaneously for 12 hours from 6:45 PM to 6:45 AM. The trapped insects were categorized based on their feeding habits and taxonomic affiliations viz., herbivores, predators, parasitoids, scavengers, mycophages, pollinators and medically and veterinary important insects. A total of 4713 insects were trapped in Solar light trap among which, predators recorded 64 per cent, scavengers 27 per cent and herbivores 8 per cent. The White LED light trap caught 2795 insects in total, which included, predators 42 per cent, herbivores 28 per cent, scavengers 28 per cent and pollinators 1.14 per cent. In Solar light trap as well as White LED trap, greater proportion of non-herbivores (92% and 72% respectively) were trapped compared to herbivores (8% and 28% respectively). These results thus suggest potential harm to the local beneficial fauna and a consequent damage to the balanced agro-ecology. In this context, deployment of any type of light trap for the sole purpose of pest management is not a tenable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps are widely used for sampling mosquitoes. However, this trap, manufactured in the USA, poses challenges for use in sub-Saharan Africa due to procurement costs and shipping time. Traps that are equally efficient than the CDC light trap, but which are amenable for use in remote African settings and made in Africa, are desirable to improve local vector surveillance. This study evaluated a novel solar-powered light trap made in South Africa (Silver Bullet trap; SB), for its efficiency in malaria vector sampling in western Kenya. Methods: Large cage (173.7 m3) experiments and field evaluations were conducted to compare the CDC-incandescent light trap (CDC-iLT), CDC-UV fluorescent tube light trap (CDC-UV), SB with white diodes (SB-White) and SB with UV diodes (SB-UV) for sampling Anopheles mosquitoes. Field assessments were done indoors and outdoors following a Latin square design. The wavelengths and absolute spectral irradiance of traps were compared using spectrometry. Results: The odds of catching a released Anopheles in the large cage experiments with the SB-UV under ambient conditions in the presence of a CDC-iLT in the same system was three times higher than what would have been expected when the two traps were equally attractive (odds ratio (OR) 3.2, 95% confidence interval CI 2.8–3.7, P < 0.01)). However, when the white light diode was used in the SB trap, it could not compete with the CDC-iLT (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.48–0.66, p < 0.01) when the two traps were provided as choices in a closed system. In the field, the CDC and Silver Bullet traps were equally effective in mosquito sampling. Irrespective of manufacturer, traps emitting UV light performed better than white or incandescent light for indoor sampling, collecting two times more Anopheles funestus sensu lato (s.l.) (RR 2.5; 95% CI 1.7–3.8) and Anopheles gambiae s.l. (RR 2.5; 95% 1.7–3.6). Outdoor collections were lower than indoor collections and similar for all light sources and traps. Conclusions: The solar-powered SB trap compared well with the CDC trap in the field and presents a promising new surveillance device especially when charging on mains electricity is challenging in remote settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light traps have been widely used for monitoring malaria vectors, although drawbacks remain. In this context, new tools and attractants are always becoming available to perform monitoring tasks, like the Silva trap, a passive and low-cost LED-light trap for host-seeking anopheline mosquitoes. In this work, the effectiveness of the Silva trap by using UV-LED and at different heights as well as a comparison with the conventional CDC-type (HP) light trap was studied. A total of 9009 mosquitoes and nine species were caught, Anopheles triannulatus, An. argyritarsis, and An. goeldii being the most frequent species. The green (520 nm) and blue (470 nm) LEDs attracted almost equal numbers of anopheline mosquitoes, but UV LEDs (395 nm) attracted a significantly lower number of individuals (Kruskal–Wallis = 19.68, P = 0.0001). Even with the predominance of mosquitoes trapped at the height of 1.5 m, no significant statistical difference was found among the four heights tested (0.5 m; 1.0 m; 1.5 m; 2.0 m). Green-baited Silva traps collected significantly more individuals than incandescent-baited CDC-type traps (U = 60.5; P = 0.0303). LEDs have been useful as light sources for attracting insect vectors and together with a low-cost trap, as the Silva trap, a feasible alternative to conventional trap-based monitoring Anopheles mosquitoes that can be implemented in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are the richest and most diverse group of animals and yet there remains a lack, not only of systematic research into their distribution across some key regions of the planet, but of standardized sampling strategies for their study. The Yanshan Mountains, being the boundary range between the Inner Mongolian Plateau and the North China Plain, present an indispensable piece of the insect biodiversity puzzle: both requiring systematic study and offering opportunities for the development of standardized methodologies. This is the first use of DNA metabarcoding to survey the insect biodiversity of the Yanshan Mountains. The study focuses on differences of community composition among samples collected via different methods and from different habitat types. In total, 74 bulk samples were collected from five habitat types (scrubland, woodland, wetland, farmland and grassland) using three collection methods (sweep netting, Malaise traps and light traps). After DNA extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing and diversity analysis were performed, a total of 7427 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) at ≥97% sequence similarity level were delimited, of which 7083 OTUs were identified as belonging to Insecta. Orthoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera were found to be the dominant orders according to community composition analysis. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis based on Bray–Curtis distances revealed highly divergent estimates of insect community composition among samples differentiated by the collection method (R =.524802, p =.001), but nonsignificant difference among samples differentiated according to habitat (R =.051102, p =.078). The study therefore appears to indicate that the concurrent use of varied collection methods is essential to the accurate monitoring of insect biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tabanidae Latreille are hematophagous and act as mechanical and biological vectors of several pathogens, and therefore they have been widely studied in both ecology and public health, as well as in taxonomy works. Males are nectarivorous and rarely captured, so for most species they remain unknown. Thus, we aimed to describe/redescribe the males of five species: Esenbeckia osornoi Fairchild, 1942, Acanthocera marginalis Walker, 1854, Dicladocera mutata Fairchild, 1958, Stypommisa aripuana Fairchild & Wilkerson, 1986, and Tabanus mucronatus Fairchild, 1961. Three males are described for the first time and two others are redescribed, we also provide a complete description of the species, including photographs of habitus, head and genitalia.

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Long term monitoring programs (LTMPs) are increasingly demanded for investigating relationships between ecosystem dynamics and climate change. Most of active LTMPs are focussed on abiotic parameters and vegetation, being animals rarely included in continuous samplings. In this paper we described the results of the first two years of a LTMP involving nocturnal macrolepidoptera (including Cossoidea and Hepialoidea) started in 2019 in a suburban area of the Crati Valley, Calabria, South Italy. In the experimental farm of the Research Centre for Forestry and Wood two light traps were settled up, running about every night. During the first two years of monitoring, a total of 12,164 individuals belonging to 297 taxa were counted, showing a community similar to those observed in other Calabrian sites with Mediterranean climate and cultivated areas. The presence of small remnants of riparian forests significantly contributed to the community composition as the observation of hygrophilous species demonstrated. Among them, Xanthia ocellaris and Leucania obsoleta were never found before in the Calabria region. Furthermore, 177 species were added to the poorly investigated Crati Valley fauna. The results presented pose a solid baseline for investigating ecosystem changes of an area submitted to short term anthropic pressures and to long term climate driven changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early life stages of fish are insufficiently studied in most regions around the globe, and consequently, there is an important gap in knowledge on the life cycle of most teleosts. In the Canary Islands (Eastern Central Atlantic), most studies on ichthyoplankton communities are based on traditional net tows in open waters that provide information about early larval stages of pelagic species in the area, while nearshore benthic fish remain highly understudied. In this study, light traps were employed for the first time to assess post-larval stages of neritic fish in this archipelago. A two-year survey was carried out to collect nearshore fish larvae every 6 months at 11 localities from El Hierro, Tenerife and Lanzarote. A total of 3940 fish larvae classified into 13 orders, 28 families and 44 species were collected. These results provide a wide description of the composition of the inshore ichthyoplankton off the Canary Islands, across islands and seasons. Main environmental factors (SST, sea floor orography, oceanographic phenomena ...) influencing the population dynamics of this community are discussed. Additionally, the ichthyoplankton assemblages were assessed from the intra-annual perspective, analyzing the species composition and abundances by months and seasons, and providing new insights into reproduction cycles of many common benthic fishes at shallow marine ecosystems of the islands. This study is important to further understand the life cycles of some of the most common fish species in the Canary Islands, unraveling main environmental factors that affect the success of their offspring that sustain populations. • Inshore ichthyoplankton community of the Canary Islands assessed by light traps. • Smaller coastal shelves off an island meant larger densities of fish post-larvae. • Changes in ichthyoplankton composition through months and seasons described. • New insights on life cycles of common fish species in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In sub-Saharan Africa, house design and ventilation affects the number of malaria mosquito vectors entering houses. This study hypothesized that indoor light from a CDC-light trap, visible from outside a hut, would increase entry of Anopheles arabiensis, an important malaria vector, and examined whether ventilation modifies this effect. Methods Four inhabited experimental huts, each situated within a large chamber, were used to assess how light and ventilation affect the number of hut-entering mosquitoes in Tanzania. Each night, 300 female laboratory-reared An. arabiensis were released inside each chamber for 72 nights. Nightly mosquito collections were made using light traps placed indoors. Temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations were measured using data loggers. Treatments and sleepers were rotated between huts using a randomized block design. Results When indoor light was visible outside the huts, there was an 84% increase in the odds of collecting mosquitoes indoors (Odds ratio, OR = 1.84, 95% confidence intervals, 95% CI 1.74–1.95, p

We aimed to monitor the species diversity and the dynamics of the number of soybean pests using light traps with an original design to develop protection systems against the main phytophages. Traps lured 44 species of insects from eight orders and 27 families. The capture of 15 species of economically important phytophages was recorded—representatives of various orders and families: order Lepidoptera—Noctuidae, Crambidae, Erebidae, and Geometridae; order Hemiptera—Flatidae; order Coleoptera—Elateridae, etc. Insect identification was carried out via morphological methods. Over the study period (93 days), 4955.41 insect specimens were caught on average per one trap. Most of the attracted insects belong to harmful entomofauna: namely the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera, Hübner)—58.9%, the beet webworm (Loxostege sticticalis, L.)—12.74%, the nutmeg moth (Anarta trifolii, Hufnagel)—6.5%, the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis, Hübner)—2.68%, and some other species—19.2%. In addition to economically significant phytophages, we registered some indifferent and beneficial species. The summer dynamics of the cotton bollworm and the nutmeg moth were obtained for the entire research period. Then, we calculated the values of the indices of biodiversity and the dominance of insect species. An analysis of the index values allows us to conclude a balanced entomocomplex at the research site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The citrus borer, Diploschema rotundicolle, is a South American cerambycid beetle considered a primary citrus pest in Uruguay. Serious focalized population explosions have been registered in recent years, particularly in lemon orchards. The larvae feed on the woody tissue, causing tree deterioration and reducing grove productivity and value. Current management relies on cultural control, which is expensive and ineffective partially because of imprecise timing of interventions. Monitoring tools for adults or information of their flight periods in Uruguay are not available thus far. Working in lemon groves in southern Uruguay throughout four flight seasons (2015-2020), we used cross-vane traps coupled with white light devices to capture night-flying adults, and mesh covers around infested trees to study adult emergence. Visual observation of larval activity and oviposition damage were also performed throughout the year. Finally, Eucalyptus globulus windbreaks were checked underneath loosen barks for hidden adults. Throughout all four seasons, adult flight occurred between late January and early April, with a maximum around mid-February. Emergence from mesh-covered trees was observed in the same period. In general, oviposition damage was observed closely after the peak of adult catches. Mostly females were both trapped in light traps and emerged from infested trees. Larval activity was registered all year long. Adults were found sheltered under E. globulus barks; in this case, mostly individual males or couples were found. This study provides a monitoring tool for D. rotundicolle adult flight and information on bio-ecological aspects of this pest in southern Uruguay.

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is one of the most widespread stressors on coastal marine habitats. Despite their sparse use in light pollution studies, light traps are a useful methodology to explore which species are attracted by ALAN. For that purpose, we placed light traps during the day and at night in the shallow subtidal adjacent to three natural sandy shores. Additionally, to determine the origin of the catches, the sediment and the water column were also sampled in both periods by a Van Veen grab and a plankton net, respectively. Our results showed that light traps catches at night were dominated by migrant fauna, mostly amphipod crustaceans emerging from the sediment. Other species that perform diel vertical migrations, such as calanoid copepods, were also attracted. This approach may help to understand which taxa are more susceptible to ALAN in these shallow habitats. • Light traps allow us to explore the effects of artificial light in coastal habitats. • Most of the species attracted by light were emergent fauna and other migrants. • Emergent fauna was mainly represented by amphipod crustaceans, as Bathyporeia. • Diel vertical migration in some species could be disrupted by artificial light. • Light pollution regulations must be promoted, especially in marine protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of six ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LED) traps and a fluorescent light trap for sampling urban nocturnal mosquitoes. Results demonstrated that the fluorescent light trap outperformed all the UV-LED traps throughout the 72 sampling nights and between wet and dry seasons. Among the UV-LED traps, the LED375 trapped the highest number of mosquitoes. Additional field trials are needed to validate these findings in different ecological settings. Well-designed surveillance systems are required to facilitate a control program for vector-borne diseases. Light traps have long been used to sample large numbers of insect species and are regarded as one of the standard choices for baseline insect surveys. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of six ultraviolet light-emitting diodes and one fluorescent light for trapping urban nocturnal mosquito species within the Kasetsart University (KU), Bangkok. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs), (LED365, LED375, LED385, LED395, and LED405) and a fluorescent light were randomly assigned to six different locations around the campus in a Latin square design. The traps were operated continuously from 18:00 h to 06:00 h throughout the night. The traps were rotated between six locations for 72 collection-nights during the dry and wet seasons. In total, 6929 adult mosquitoes were caught, with the most predominant genus being Culex, followed by Aedes, Anopheles, Armigeres and Mansonia. Among the Culex species, Culex quinquefasciatus (n = 5121: 73.9%) was the most abundant followed by Culex gelidus (n = 1134: 16.4%) and Culex vishnui (n = 21: 0.3%). Small numbers of Aedes, Armigeres, and Anopheles mosquitoes were trapped [Aedes albopictus (n = 219: 3.2%), Aedes pocilius (n = 137: 2.0%), Armigeres subalbatus (n = 97: 1.4%), Anopheles vagus (n = 70: 1.0%), Aedes aegypti (n = 23: 0.3%)]. There were 2582 specimens (37.2%) captured in fluorescent light traps, whereas 942 (13.6%), 934 (13.5%), 854 (12.3%), 820 (11.8%), and 797 (11.5%) were captured in the LED375, LED405, LED395, LED365, and LED385 traps, respectively. None of the UV-LED light traps were as efficacious for sampling nocturnal mosquito species as the fluorescent light trap. Among the five UV-LED light sources, LED375 trapped the greatest number of mosquitoes. Additional field trials are needed to validate these findings in different settings in order to substantially assess the potential of the LEDs to trap outdoor nocturnal mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economidichthys trichonis is the smallest teleostean of Europe and is inhabited Lake Trichonis (Greece). Previous investigation concerning the feeding of the dominant fish of this lake (Atherina boyeri) revealed that the use of fishing lights in the purse seine fishery of this species may result to its increased predation upon the larvae of E. trichonis, which come close to light. This study investigates the diet of these larvae, to understand why they approach to the light although they suffer heavy predation by A. boyeri. Collection of the larvae was made using light traps, where the light was produced by Cyalume light sticks of different colours (white, red, yellow, blue and green). The traps were deployed in the lake during moonless nights in May, June, July, September and October 2020. In total, 833 larvae were caught with greater numbers in the traps with the green, the yellow and the white colour. Gut content analysis revealed a diet comprised of 10 taxa, among which the copepod Eudiaptomus drieschi dominated accounting for an average frequency of occurrence (F) of 98.6%. The cladoceran Diaphanosoma orghidani and the mollusk larvae of Dreissena blanci followed (F = 42.5% and 32.5%, respectively). E. trichonis larvae approach to light following the accumulation of zooplankton and face intense interspecific competition with A. boyeri since they have almost the same food preferences. The predation exerted by A. boyeri on its competitor reduces this interspecific competition, while providing it energy from this high nutritional prey. This study confirms that fishing lights favour the predatory instinct of different fish species and affect drastically the survival and growth of E. trichonis, an endangered species. Considering that fishing with light is exercised worldwide, the actual consequences of this practice on fish larvae survival is challenging to be evaluated in other marine and freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field study was conducted in date palm orchards in Salah al-Din Governorate during the period from 1/10/ 2020 to 30/10/2021 to survey the species of date palm borers and estimate their population density and relative presence during the study period. The results showed the diagnosis of three species of palm borers belonging to Coleoptera of the family Scarabaeidae, which included Oryctes elegans, Pentodon sp and Tanyproctus sp. The relative presence of males and females for the three borers was (53.00, 47.00%), (51.98, 48.02%) and (52.76, 47.24 %), respectively., the highest population density for males and females of the three borers during the month of June was (224, 192), (145, 132) and (68, 57) respectively, and the sex ratio for each of the three borers was 1.1:1 The highest total of adults caught by IPM Russell traps during one year was for O. elegans and Pentodon sp. it reached 418 and 236.3 adults/trap, respectively, while the total of adults of the two insects in the local trap was 75.7 and 49.9 adults/trap, respectively. For the borer Tanyproctus sp., the local trap superior on other traps , in which the total number of adults caught was 312 adults/trap, while it was 50 adults/IPM Russell trap.

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Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, house design and ventilation affects the number of malaria mosquito vectors entering houses. This study hypothesized that indoor light from a CDC-light trap, visible from outside a hut, would increase entry of Anopheles arabiensis, an important malaria vector, and examined whether ventilation modifies this effect. Methods: Four inhabited experimental huts, each situated within a large chamber, were used to assess how light and ventilation affect the number of hut-entering mosquitoes in Tanzania. Each night, 300 female laboratory-reared An. arabiensis were released inside each chamber for 72 nights. Nightly mosquito collections were made using light traps placed indoors. Temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations were measured using data loggers. Treatments and sleepers were rotated between huts using a randomized block design. Results: When indoor light was visible outside the huts, there was an 84% increase in the odds of collecting mosquitoes indoors (Odds ratio, OR = 1.84, 95% confidence intervals, 95% CI 1.74–1.95, p < 0.001) compared with when it was not. Although the odds of collecting mosquitoes in huts with closed eaves (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.41–0.72, p < 0.001) was less than those with open eaves, few mosquitoes entered either type of well-ventilated hut. The odds of collecting mosquitoes was 99% less in well-ventilated huts, compared with poorly-ventilated traditional huts (OR = 0.01, 95% CI 0.01–0.03, p < 0.001). In well-ventilated huts, indoor temperatures were 1.3 °C (95% CI 0.9–1.7, p < 0.001) cooler, with lower carbon dioxide (CO2) levels (mean difference = 97 ppm, 77.8–116.2, p < 0.001) than in poorly-ventilated huts. Conclusion: Although light visible from outside a hut increased mosquito house entry, good natural ventilation reduces indoor carbon dioxide concentrations, a major mosquito attractant, thereby reducing mosquito-hut entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Automated species identification based on data produced with metabarcoding offers an alternative for assessing biodiversity of bulk insect samples obtained with traps. We used a standard two‐step PCR approach to amplify a 313 bp fragment of the barcoding region of the mitochondrial COI gene. The PCR products were sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform, and the OTUs production and taxonomic identifications were performed with a customized pipeline and database. The DNA used in the PCR procedures was extracted directly from the preservative ethanol of bulk insect samples obtained with automatic light traps in 12 sampling areas located in different biomes of Brazil, during wet and dry seasons. Agricultural field and forest edge habitats were collected for all sampling areas. A total of 119 insect OTUs and nine additional OTUs assigned to other arthropod taxa were obtained at a ≥97% sequence similarity level. The alpha and beta diversity analyses comparing biomes, habitats, and seasons were mostly inconclusive, except for a significant difference in beta diversity between biomes. In this study, we were able to metabarcode and HTS adult insects from their preservative medium. Notwithstanding, our results underrepresent the true magnitude of insect diversity expected from samples obtained with automatic light traps in Brazil. Although biological and technical factors might have impacted our results, measures to optimize and standardize eDNA HTS should be in place to improve taxonomic coverage of samples of unknown diversity and stored in suboptimal conditions, which is the case of most eDNA samples.

Biological monitoring of planktonic animals is greatly dependent on the deployment of traps. A variety of specialized traps have been designed for surface plankton and vertebrates. However, certain groups, such as planktonic larvae of benthic marine invertebrates remain underrepresented in sampling efforts. Catching them has proven to be more challenging because of their size, swimming ability, location, and abundance. In the present study a successful light trap for sampling American lobster larvae in New Brunswick, Canada, is evaluated on the island of Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea). Our results showed the traps were successful in catching larvae in laboratory experiments but were unable to catch European lobster larvae in the field. Traps deployed in the field were successful in capturing other benthic and pelagic zooplankton predominantly consisting of crustaceans from the orders: Cumacea, Amphipoda, Mysida and Isopoda. The low density of lobster larvae, the island's topography, and their unique photactic response possibly limited the success rate of the light traps. Future research is needed to construct a specialized trap to sample Helgoland's lobster larvae and provide information on the current larval fitness and population numbers. • Homarus gammarus larvae light traps tested for the first time on Helgoland. • Traps tested in laboratory experiments at different volumes, successfully caught lobster larvae. • Field light traps caught diverse zooplankton, showing potential for crustacean larvae sampling. • No lobster larvae caught in the field, low numbers and distinctive behavior may be the reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to monitor the species diversity and the dynamics of the number of soybean pests using light traps with an original design to develop protection systems against the main phytophages. Traps lured 44 species of insects from eight orders and 27 families. The capture of 15 species of economically important phytophages was recorded—representatives of various orders and families: order Lepidoptera—Noctuidae, Crambidae, Erebidae, and Geometridae; order Hemiptera—Flatidae; order Coleoptera—Elateridae, etc. Insect identification was carried out via morphological methods. Over the study period (93 days), 4955.41 insect specimens were caught on average per one trap. Most of the attracted insects belong to harmful entomofauna: namely the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera, Hübner)—58.9%, the beet webworm (Loxostege sticticalis, L.)—12.74%, the nutmeg moth (Anarta trifolii, Hufnagel)—6.5%, the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis, Hübner)—2.68%, and some other species—19.2%. In addition to economically significant phytophages, we registered some indifferent and beneficial species. The summer dynamics of the cotton bollworm and the nutmeg moth were obtained for the entire research period. Then, we calculated the values of the indices of biodiversity and the dominance of insect species. An analysis of the index values allows us to conclude a balanced entomocomplex at the research site.

Brown Planthopper (BPH) is one of the most dangerous insects that cause damage to rice. Aphids infected rice fields with low productivity can be lost even. Dealing with this situation, the Plant Protection industry has invented the light trap - a device based on the specific activity of insects phototaxis. These measures are considered effective and less costly today. However, the current light traps are usually installed next to the home of the staff assigned to manage light traps for easy tracking without attention to the impact of environmental factors around. Currently, the plant protection industry wants more scientific basis in light traps arranged so they want to review and make the factors of climate and geography in the light traps installed but not yet performed. In this paper, we propose an approach to find appropriate positions to replace light traps based on a combination between weather factors and geographical factors with data on infected areas by BPH with various infection levels exhibited on the maps based on Cellular Automata method. We present the simulation results with 8 considered cases to determine positions for light traps in an area of more than 1400 square kilometres including 84 communes in Can Tho city, one of the largest rice granaries in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was carried out to identity 18 species of order lepidoptera belonging to 17 genera, 10 subfamilies and 6 families from Al-Jabal Al-AKhdar, Libya. The survey of these species were conducted in 12 regions during the period from January to December 2018, The percentage of the presence of each species in the studied regions has been determined. The species global distribution, synonyms, common names and hosts plant also were given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-designed surveillance systems are required to facilitate a control program for vector-borne diseases. Light traps have long been used to sample large numbers of insect species and are regarded as one of the standard choices for baseline insect surveys. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of six ultraviolet light-emitting diodes and one fluorescent light for trapping urban nocturnal mosquito species within the Kasetsart University (KU), Bangkok. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs), (LED365, LED375, LED385, LED395, and LED405) and a fluorescent light were randomly assigned to six different locations around the campus in a Latin square design. The traps were operated continuously from 18:00 h to 06:00 h throughout the night. The traps were rotated between six locations for 72 collection-nights during the dry and wet seasons. In total, 6929 adult mosquitoes were caught, with the most predominant genus being Culex, followed by Aedes, Anopheles, Armigeres and Mansonia. Among the Culex species, Culex quinquefasciatus (n = 5121: 73.9%) was the most abundant followed by Culex gelidus (n = 1134: 16.4%) and Culex vishnui (n = 21: 0.3%). Small numbers of Aedes, Armigeres, and Anopheles mosquitoes were trapped [Aedes albopictus (n = 219: 3.2%), Aedes pocilius (n = 137: 2.0%), Armigeres subalbatus (n = 97: 1.4%), Anopheles vagus (n = 70: 1.0%), Aedes aegypti (n = 23: 0.3%)]. There were 2582 specimens (37.2%) captured in fluorescent light traps, whereas 942 (13.6%), 934 (13.5%), 854 (12.3%), 820 (11.8%), and 797 (11.5%) were captured in the LED375, LED405, LED395, LED365, and LED385 traps, respectively. None of the UV-LED light traps were as efficacious for sampling nocturnal mosquito species as the fluorescent light trap. Among the five UV-LED light sources, LED375 trapped the greatest number of mosquitoes. Additional field trials are needed to validate these findings in different settings in order to substantially assess the potential of the LEDs to trap outdoor nocturnal mosquitoes.

Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are one of the most limiting pests of avocado in Antioquia Department, Colombia. The establishment of management strategies to control these beetles has been difficult because the species causing damage to avocado fruit and young leaves have not been identified. Selected commercial avocado fields were surveyed at different times of d for scarab beetle adults affecting small fruit and young leaves, as well as other plant structures such as flowers, tender buds, stems, and mature leaves. Additionally, ultraviolet light traps were placed at each field to quantify the species captured. After direct scouting of avocado trees, the only scarab beetle species detected causing damage to fruit and young leaves at all sampling sites was Astaena pygidialis Kirsch (Coleoptera: Melolonthinae). Adults were observed chewing the green skin of small fruit causing striations on the fruit and skeletonization of young leaves by chewing the leaf tissue between veins on the upper surface. Other species observed include Anomala cincta Say (Coleoptera: Rutelinae), Charioderma xylina Blanchard, and Strigoderma sp. (all Coleoptera: Rutelinae) associated with flowers, Isonychus sp. (Coleoptera: Melolonthinae) with flower buds, Cyclocephala fulgurata Burmeister (Coleoptera: Dynastinae) with tender buds, stems and flowers, and Astaena valida Burmeister and Plectris pavida (Burmeister) (both Coleoptera: Melolonthinae) with mature leaves. The species detected through scouting also were captured with light traps. The dominant species captured with light traps was Phyllophaga obsoleta (Blanchard) (Coleoptera: Melolonthinae), which was not observed causing damage to avocado fruit or young leaves. Correct identification of the species is the key to establish adequate sampling and management strategies for these scarab beetles in avocado crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the diverse assemblage of species inhabiting rocky and coral reef habitats in isolated oceanic environments, and the important sound cues emitted from the reef, are crucial components to understand how species locate suitable habitats for the completion of their life‐cycle and, thus, the functioning of these vulnerable ecosystems.Recent field information suggests that the majority of reef biodiversity comprises small cryptic invertebrates; however, knowledge on these small components is extremely scarce.The present study used light attraction methods to explore the diversity of larval, post‐larval and macrobenthic cryptic fauna, and hydrophones to characterize the natural soundscape of rocky and coral reef habitats at the Robinson Crusoe island (Juan Fernandez Archipelago; 33°38′S, 78°50′W), and Rapa Nui (Easter Island; 27°7′S, 109°21′W), respectively.Pelagic collections found important site‐specific patterns and identified two main species assemblages: early‐life stages (e.g. eggs, larval and juvenile stages of crustaceans, molluscs, and fishes) and emerging macrobenthos (e.g. demersal zooplankton such as peracarid crustaceans, ostracods, copepods, and polychaetes), with the latter contributing between 73 and 98% to the total catches.The soundscape records showed marked differences among sites and seasons at Robinson Crusoe island, with variable differences found between day and night. However, at Rapa Nui, there were no differences between sites, but the ambient sound was higher at night possibly due to higher snapping shrimp activity.This information highlights the importance of considering small‐scale (site‐to‐site) patterns when evaluating overlooked components of diversity (i.e. biological or acoustic) in oceanic habitats, and provides the basis for understanding the importance of natural noise in the settlement of most reef‐associated species, crucial features for the conservation of these remote and vulnerable ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm borers become a serious threat to date palm plantations in Iraq, which required management program to suppress their population by using different methods; one of them is the light traps which disseminated in Basrah province. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of light traps as a part of pest management tool. In three years monitoring of coleopteran adults, rhinoceros beetles Oryctes spp. and longhorn date palm borer Jebusaea hammerschmidtii infesting the date palm Phoenix dactylifera were reported by using light traps in different regions of Basrah, Iraq. Due to the result of the abundance of the borers, Oryctes spp. were the most dominant and most important causing severe damage for the date palm. Four species of Oryctes (O. agamemnon, O. elegans, O. sahariensis and O. sinaicus) were recorded in Basrah date palm orchards; the seasonal activity of the species was between April and May, reaching the peaks during summer, and the populations decreased gradually till December. The overall sex ratios of all species of Oryctes spp. were male-biased except O. elegans, which had the sex ratio of 1.13 female: 1 male. Results revealed that the light traps exhibit an effective control method to suppress the adult borer’s population and as a physical control and monitoring tool of date palm stem borers.

Tuta absolute was a quarantine pest in Iran that has been recorded for the first time in 2009. The most conventional methods for control of this pest in Iran are chemical methods and mass trapping, although the efficiency of the latter method is not clear. In 2013, the efficiency of three common types of solar light traps with and without sex pheromone, along with water pan pheromone traps for control, were investigated. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design within in a tomato field. The treatments were Behroyan light trap (BL), Zist bani light trap (ZL), Russell light trap (RL), BL + pheromone, ZL+ pheromone, RL+ pheromone and water pan pheromone trap (WPT). Traps were checked weekly and the number of captured tomato leaf miner (TLM), Noctuid moths, Chrysopa sp., Coccinella septempuctata and Syrphid flies were counted. Mean weekly capture of TLM in BL, ZL and RL traps without sex pheromone were 9.11 ± 1.16, 4.94 ± 0.24 and 1.66 ± 0.7, while within traps sex pheromone were 54.72 ± 11.8, 42.05 ± 6.47, 39.02 ± 2.82, respectively. The mean weekly capture of Noctuid moths in the traps without pheromone were 16.92 ± 1.39, 25.39 ± 0.57, 1.49 ± 0.27 and with pheromone were 21.04 ± 1.72, 28.09 ± 0.95, 2.76 ± 1.39, respectively. Mean weekly capture of TLM and Noctuid moths in WPT traps were 47.13 ± 3.06 and 0.73 ± 0.27, respectively. The total attracted numbers of predators by the three light traps were not significant. In conclusion, traps baited sex pheromone (especially BL and ZL) could be used as eco- friendly tools for mass trapping of TLM and some key Noctuid moth pests in isolated tomato fields.

The Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, has a history of invasions in numerous countries. In 1992, the Chinese mitten crab was introduced to the San Francisco Bay/Delta system. Since its invasion in the San Francisco Bay, it has become an aquatic nuisance species. Little is known about the population dynamics of the megalopa stage of the Chinese mitten crab in the San Francisco Bay estuary, particularly the megalopa stage. Light traps are often used to sample marine larvae and can provide measures for relative abundance of larvae between sampling locations. As part of an ongoing study to monitor mitten crab larvae in the San Francisco Bay, light trap and plankton tow samples were analyzed formitten crab megalopae and zoeae. In order to implement low cost sampling devices for mitten crab megalopae such as light traps, it is necessary to be able to identify their larvae in collected samples. Thus, the main objective of this work was to develop a means to distinguish mitten crab megalopae from other native and invasive brachyuran megalopae inhabiting the San Francisco Bay Estuary. The minimal amount of mitten crab megalopae found in light trap samples may be linked to the recent decline of mitten crab zoeae in San Pablo Bay.

The quantitative accounting of Sphingidae of Kyrgyzstan using automatic autonomous light traps is presented. 16 species with nocturnal activity were recorded, four of them are most numerous, eight are of average abundance, one is a migrant and three are rare. Two species are proposed for inclusion in the Red Data Book of Kyrgyzstan (Sphingonaepiopsis kuldjaensis, Proserpinus proserpina).

The brown planthopper (BPH) is a crucial pest of rice in tropical zones like the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. It economically causes severe loss to the rice harvest via direct nutritional depletion. Many studies address the BPH surveillance by using networks of wireless sensors that are mounted on light traps. However, these approaches have not been confirmed as effective deployment due to inoperative light traps' locations. The problem is that the geographical area of towns is not identical, leading to unnecessary redundancy of sensors and light traps. Our aim in this article is to optimize the locations of BPH sensor networks by utilizing cellular automata and honeycomb architecture which have not been affected by the spatial characteristic geographically. The authors have made several contributions regarding the mentioned problem by (i) quantitatively proving that the deployment cost of BPH sensor networks is significantly reduced, and consequently (ii) optimizing the BPH sensor network. Therefore, the appropriate configuration of the network is maintained in any circumstances. The experiments have been performed on BPH surveillance networks in Hau Giang, a substantial rice province in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm borers become a serious threat to date palm plantations in Iraq, which required management program to suppress their population by using different methods; one of them is the light traps which disseminated in Basrah province. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of light traps as a part of pest management tool. In three years monitoring of coleopteran adults, rhinoceros beetles Oryctes spp. and longhorn date palm borer Jebusaea hammerschmidtii infesting the date palm Phoenix dactylifera were reported by using light traps in different regions of Basrah, Iraq. Due to the result of the abundance of the borers, Oryctes spp. were the most dominant and most important causing severe damage for the date palm. Four species of Oryctes (O. agamemnon, O. elegans, O. sahariensis and O. sinaicus) were recorded in Basrah date palm orchards; the seasonal activity of the species was between April and May, reaching the peaks during summer, and the populations decreased gradually till December. The overall sex ratios of all species of Oryctes spp. were male-biased except O. elegans, which had the sex ratio of 1.13 female: 1 male. Results revealed that the light traps exhibit an effective control method to suppress the adult borer’s population and as a physical control and monitoring tool of date palm stem borers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated species identification based on data produced with metabarcoding offers an alternative for assessing biodiversity of bulk insect samples obtained with traps. We used a standard two‐step PCR approach to amplify a 313 bp fragment of the barcoding region of the mitochondrial COI gene. The PCR products were sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform, and the OTUs production and taxonomic identifications were performed with a customized pipeline and database. The DNA used in the PCR procedures was extracted directly from the preservative ethanol of bulk insect samples obtained with automatic light traps in 12 sampling areas located in different biomes of Brazil, during wet and dry seasons. Agricultural field and forest edge habitats were collected for all sampling areas. A total of 119 insect OTUs and nine additional OTUs assigned to other arthropod taxa were obtained at a ≥97% sequence similarity level. The alpha and beta diversity analyses comparing biomes, habitats, and seasons were mostly inconclusive, except for a significant difference in beta diversity between biomes. In this study, we were able to metabarcode and HTS adult insects from their preservative medium. Notwithstanding, our results underrepresent the true magnitude of insect diversity expected from samples obtained with automatic light traps in Brazil. Although biological and technical factors might have impacted our results, measures to optimize and standardize eDNA HTS should be in place to improve taxonomic coverage of samples of unknown diversity and stored in suboptimal conditions, which is the case of most eDNA samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although we have known anecdotally that insects have been declining in Great Britain for more than 100 years, insect declines have only been statistically estimated over the last 20 years. Estimation of the rate of those declines is still hotly debated, fuelled by a lack of standardised, systematically collected data.More than 24 million individual moths and aphids collected from 112 light traps and 25 12.2 m suction‐traps, respectively, were analysed using mixed models. Our objective was to estimate the long‐term trends in both groups based on annual totals recorded every year between 1969 and 2016.The models showed that two paradigms existed: Over 47 years, long‐term linear trends showed that moths had declined significantly by −31%, but short‐term trends indicated that there were periods of significant decline and recovery in most decades since the 1960s. Conversely, despite aphid annual totals fluctuating widely, this group was in a steady state over the long‐term, with a non‐significant decline of −7.6%. Sensitivity analysis revealed that moth trends were not driven by a group of abundant species, but the sign of the overall aphid trends may have been driven by three of the most abundant species.The spatial extent of moth trends suggests that they are extremely heterogeneous. Uniquely, moth declines were different among several habitat types, with robust significant declines found in coastal, urban and woodland habitats, but notably not in agricultural, parkland and scrubland habitats. Conversely, aphid trends showed spatial synchrony extending to 338 km, albeit with local variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nocturnal displacement to the water column of species hiding in the substrate during the day (so-called demersal migration) is a widespread phenomenon in coastal habitats. However, despite the relevance of these migrations to coastal ecosystem functioning, most of their ecological aspects are poorly understood. We aim to characterize spatial distribution patterns of demersal amphipods by comparing samples collected by light traps deployed both at rocky and nearby sandy areas. Dispersal abilities of such species were explored by considering two spatial scales of separation between rocky and sandy substrates: (1) <100 m and (2) >1 km. A total of >45,000 amphipod specimens were collected in the water column during the whole study, belonging to 50 species. The numerically dominant species were Guernea coalita , Bathyporeia cf. elegans , Perioculodes longimanus and Nototropis swammerdamei. The present study highlights the relevance of substrate type and study location on coastal demersal amphipod migrations. Amphipod assemblages were significantly different in the water column above rocky and sandy bottoms, even at a small spatial scale. Species emerging from rocky bottoms tend to remain in the proximity of this habitat; they showed lower abundances in sandy areas located nearby and almost none of them reached distant sandy areas. In contrast, migrant species commonly found on sediment during the day were collected at higher abundances in light traps deployed above rocky bottoms. Although several factors (e.g. food availability, predation pressure) are proposed to explain these patterns, the purpose of this horizontal migration remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]