Moonlight The effect of light A suggested experiment How to set up a Recording Cloud Cover: Making a collection Labelling the samples Further information What does that

UNSURE |CLEAR| MOSTLY CLEAR | To make a reference collection: A Heath Moth trap environmental data word mean? Beginners' guide to the FOG CLOUDY | MOSTLY CLOUDY | reference collection makes it easier to

OVERCAST Once you have your moths, put them identify the different species and study The phase of the moon affects the Moths are well known for their A scientific experiment needs: 1. Slot the four sides together and Date: The label is what makes the moth a This guide contains only the most Lepidoptera: Moths and butterflies macro-moths of Otago in a cool place or in the fridge. They them. number and type of moths that are attraction to light. Lights come in slide them on to the base. Precipitation on trap night: specimen. All labels need: common larger moths in the Otago Endemic: Found only in that place will calm down so you can look at them flying. Moths tend to be more different colours. The different colours 1. A QUESTION (e.g, what effect does an orange street light have on the moth 2. Push the small funnel into the Location: UNSURE | NONE |DRIZZLE | LIGHT To catalogue species: It’s important to region; there are many more moths. If Ecosystem: all biological and physical more easily. If you are confident that What: A unique code that refers to just abundant on the new moon (when are related to the wavelength of the community?) centre hole in the base. This stops RAIN | MODERATE RAIN | HEAVY RAIN ensure that when we talk to other you find a moth that is not on this processes interacting in an area Region code: DN | OL | SL many are the same species, you can this one specimen. Include the species there is no moon light) and less on the light. Longer wavelengths look 2. A TREATMENT designed to test the question, e.g. a trap under a bright street water collecting in the trap entomologists we can check we are all guide it may be rare, sparse Nocturnal: Happens at night Air temperature (°C) count them and release most of them. name if you know it and the name of Why are moths important? full moon. To fairly compare catches orange/red. Shorter wavelengths look light. 3. Fit the lid over the trap. Latitude: calling the same species the same (widespread but never very numerous), Community: A group of different Keep a couple of each species and put the person who identified it. We know relatively little about the we need to take into account the moon blue/violet. Moths can see further into 3. A CONTROL for anything that might affect the results – aside from the one 4. Carefully place six to eight egg Ave.: Min.: Max.: name. Sometimes two species look a range extension (not normally in the species in an area distribution of moths across New thing we want to test. The treatment and control should be as similar as Longitude: the rest on some vegetation close to phase. For a small experiment we can the short (Ultra-Violet) wavelengths cartons in the trap. Make sure very similar and we need a specimen to Where: The location where the Otago region), a ‘micro-moth’ or a new Relative humidity (%) where you trapped them. Acknowledgements Moths play an important role in the Zealand, moth ecology or the potential set the moth traps on the same night than we can. possible in every way – EXCEPT the thing that we want to test, e.g. a moth trap they overlap but do not cover the be sure of the species identity. Other species (there are many moth species Ave.: Min.: Max.: specimen was trapped. By convention ecosystem, as food for native birds and impacts of artificial light on moth under a street light and another one away from the light, but the same in every in New Zealand still to be properly or in the same moon phase. For a wide- small funnel. These help the We have to kill moths to make a times species are very variable and two a region code (see map), The “Shedding Light on the Night” project is a pollinators for plants. communities. There are all sorts of artificial lights other way (see factors that might affect moths). 4. Place a piece of tracing paper over described and named). partnership between Landcare Research, the Botany ranging or long-term study we need to moths settle calmly in the trap. Wind Speed (km/h) collection so we do it as quickly and individuals of the same species may around our houses, schools and 4. A RESPONSE that can be COUNTED or MEASURED to quantify the difference 5. Place the large funnel in the top of look very different. Therefore we need When: The collection date, by the wings and pin the paper (not and Geography Departments of the University of record the moon phase (or work it out Ave.: Min.: Max.: painlessly as possible. Otago, Orokonui Ecosanctuary, and a collection of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) are streets. Some give off yellow/orange the wings) in place. Take a photo and post on Facebook What determines which later) to take it into account using between the treatment and the control, e.g. the number of moth species or the the trap. a range of specimens to know the convention this is the day the trap was Otago schools. “Shedding Light on the Night” is funded light like classic street lights. Newer 5. Place the moth somewhere cool, MothNet group and ask for help. the third largest group of insects in New moths are where? statistics. number of individual moths of each species. 6. Open out the fins of the vane unit Surrounding vegetation: Put the moths in the freezer for a variability of a species. set, not the following morning. by The Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform – Moths vs Butterflies Otago Pilot. Zealand with over 2000 known species. LED street lights come in a range of 5. REPLICATION allows you to show that the effect of the treatment is real and and slide the clip on to hold them NON-IRRIGATED PASTURE | PASTURE | couple of hours; they will go to sleep dark and dry and away from live Who: The name of collector. Facebook/MothNetNZ Most New Zealand moths are found We can test the effect of the moon colours including white-blue. not down to chance differences between the treatment and the control. Small in place. SCHOOL FIELD | NATIVE GRASSLAND | and then die peacefully. Moths breed To compare variation traits: To insects. The “Beginners’ Guide to the Macro-Moths of Otago” nowhere else in the world (92% phase by trapping in the same place COASTAL | RIVERSIDE | understand the ecology and evolution 6. Depending on the moisture in the Take a photo and post the photo on was produced by Landcare Research for the “Shedding Each moth species has specific food differences need more replication to be detectable. 7. Place the vane unit in the top of fast so as long as you don’t trap for Recent evidence from overseas of species we often need to study the air, it may take 1–3 weeks for the Light on the Night” project. The overall text, content, endemic). Otago is a hotspot for moth every few days over the cycle of moon the funnel. EXOTIC GARDEN | NATIVE GARDEN | more than a few nights in a row in the the NatureWatchNZ MothNet project. and design, by Drs Barbara Anderson and Robert and environmental requirements that suggests that type and amount of Moths and butterflies have three main species within New Zealand. phases. SHRUBLAND | FOREST variation between individuals within a Pinning wings to completely dry in place. Hoare, are part of the ongoing research into the it needs to survive. Important 8. Clip the Solar unit onto the trap. body parts: the head, thorax and same place you won’t impact the local artificial light affect the relative NatureWatch.org.nz/project/MothNet ecology, distributions, and ecological interactions of 9. Attach the RED (positive) contact moth population. species and between closely related Check them regularly. environmental factors for moths are abundances of moths. abdomen. The two pairs of wings and Lepidoptera in the Otago region included in the Their largely nocturnal behaviour Distance to nearest shrub/tree (m): species. food-plants, nectar sources to the 12V battery, followed by six legs are attached to the thorax. Check the Landcare Research online Coastal, Alpine and Montane Biotic Interactions 0–5 | 6–10 | 11–20 | 21–50 Entomologists collect samples for a 1. Use special stainless steel insect research programme. The moth illustrations are by means moths are often overlooked, but the BLACK (negative) contact. guide to larger moths of New Zealand temperature, humidity, and wind Altitude: Slope: To detect changes over time: Birgit Rhode, Landcare Research, based on specimens they make great subjects for Moths and butterflies are all variety of reasons: pins. Larger moths need a size 3 pin. speed. 10. Cover the Solar unit completely Height of surrounding canopy (m): Sometimes we don’t know what will be www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resource in the NZAC. Line drawings are by Lily Burrows. We environmental monitoring. Their short 2. Gently run the pin through the would like to thank Brian Patrick for help in compiling and slowly count to 30. The Lepidoptera. Although most butterflies Aspect: 0–0.3 |0.3–1 | 1–2 | 2–5 | 5–12 | 12+ s/identification/animals/large-moths To describe and classify new species: important in the future. Historical middle of the thorax of the moth. the list of species for inclusion. life-cycle and good mobility mean their We can use the information about the ACTINIC bulb should glow fly during the day so do a lot of moths. FLAT | N | NE | E | SE | S | SW | W | Every new species requires the collections allow entomologists to 3. Leave about 1/3 of the pin above distributions often show clear environment where we find moths to white/blue. Butterflies tend to be more brightly NW Post the specimen to the “Shedding designation of a type specimen. The compare species traits over time and the top of the moth. This gives geographic relationships with better understand the ecology of 11. Place the trap in your chosen coloured, but not always – some moths Light on the Night” Landcare Research, Sunset: Sunrise: name of the species is hinged on the detect the effect of environmental enough room to hold the pin measurable environmental factors. moths. Once we understand the location. The solar cell will ensure are very brightly coloured. Butterflies Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 1954. type specimen. Future revisions and change or predict future changes without touching the moth and relationship between the species’ the trap bulb switches on at dusk have clubbed antennae, whereas Moon Phase: identifications can then be compared [email protected] Despite the many unique and intriguing presence and the environment we can moths have feathery or simple enough room below the moth for and off at dawn. Logging the data ensures we get the with this specimen. the labels. moth species in New Zealand, we have start to make predictions about how 12. Come back in the morning and antennae. Other light source: most information from a specimen. only a small number of professional moths will be affected by climate check the trap. lepidopterists. change. Distance to artificial light source:

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Geometridae Noctuidae

Poecilasthena schistaria Elvia glaucata HelasƟ a cinerearia Samana acutata Homohadena forƟ s Austrocidaria cedrinodes Ischalis forƟ nata Xanthorhoe semifi ssata Graphania phricias Meterana meyricci Proteuxoa sp. Graphania lignana Tmetolophota propria Bityla defi gurata

Anachloris subochraria AgroƟ s admiraƟ onis

Epicyme rubropunctaria Pseudocoremia cineracia HelasƟ a corcularia Austrocidaria gobiata Graphania plena Orthoclydon praefectata Meterana ochthisƟ s Tmetolophota atristriga Xyridacma ustaria Zermizinga indocilisaria Bityla sericea Graphania morosa Asaphodes abrogata Meterana alcyone Tmetolophota semiviƩ ata AgroƟ s infusa Epyaxa lucidata HomodoƟ s megaspilata Hepialidae

Austrocidaria parora Pasiphila bilineolata Pseudocoremia indisƟ ncta Graphania rubescens DipausƟ ca epiastra Graphania lithias Meterana sƟ pata PhyseƟ ca caerulea Asaphodes aegrota Meterana coeleno Tmetolophota steropasƟ s AgroƟ s ipsilon

Epyaxa rosearia Pasiphila inductata Pasiphila sphragiƟ s Pseudocoremia leucelaea Graphania prionisƟ s Declana juncƟ linea Gellonia dejectaria Wiseana cervinata Meterana tartarea Asaphodes chlamydota Graphania chlorodonta Graphania mutans Tmetolophota aconƟ sƟ s Meterana diatmeta Tmetolophota purdii Wiseana copularis AleƟ a cucullina AleƟ a moderata Pasiphila lunata

HelasƟ a plumbea Pseudocoremia melinata Meterana viƟ osa Austrocidaria similata Declana leptomera Gellonia pannularia Graphania disjungens Graphania nullifera Meterana decorata AleƟ a cuneata Tmetolophota unica Pasiphila muscosata Wiseana fuliginea Erebidae Pseudocoremia productata Wiseana mimica Graphania usƟ striga Meterana exquisita Persectania aversa Asaphodes clarata HelasƟ a chrisƟ nae Hydriomena deltoidata Graphania omoplaca Declana fl occosa AleƟ a virescens Graphania insignis

Pseudocoremia rudisata Asaphodes prasinias Declana toreuta Horisme suppressaria Hydriomena rixata Pseudocoremia suavis Wiseana jocosa Andesia pessota Graphania infensa Graphania paracausta Helicoverpa armigera Meterana grandiosa Meterana coeleno Rhapsa scotosialis Nyctemera annulata