Moonlight The effect of light A suggested experiment How to set up a

Beginners' guide to the Heath trap

The phase of the moon affects the are well known for their A scientific experiment needs: 1. Slot the four sides together and macro-moths of Otago attraction to light. Lights come in number and type of moths that are slide them on to the base. 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 abundant on the new moon (when are related to the wavelength of the community?) centre hole in the base. This stops 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 Why are moths important? full moon. To fairly compare catches orange/red. Shorter wavelengths look light. 3. Fit the lid over the trap. 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 distribution of moths across New phase. For a small experiment we can the short (Ultra-Violet) wavelengths thing we want to test. The treatment and control should be as similar as cartons in the trap. Make sure 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 ecosystem, as food for native birds and impacts of artificial light on moth or in the same moon phase. For a wide- under a street light and another one away from the light, but the same in every small funnel. These help the pollinators for plants. communities. There are all sorts of artificial lights ranging or long-term study we need to other way (see factors that might affect moths). moths settle calmly in the trap. around our houses, schools and record the moon phase (or work it out 4. A RESPONSE that can be COUNTED or MEASURED to quantify the difference 5. Place the large funnel in the top of (moths and butterflies) are streets. Some give off yellow/orange 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. the third largest group of in New light like classic street lights. Newer moths are where? statistics. number of individual moths of each species. 6. Open out the fins of the vane unit Zealand with over 2000 known species. LED street lights come in a range of Moths vs Butterflies 5. REPLICATION allows you to show that the effect of the treatment is real and and slide the clip on to hold them 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. nowhere else in the world (92% phase by trapping in the same place Each moth species has specific food differences need more replication to be detectable. 7. Place the vane unit in the top of endemic). Otago is a hotspot for moth every few days over the cycle of moon Recent evidence from overseas and environmental requirements that suggests that type and amount of the funnel. Moths and butterflies have three main species within New Zealand. phases. it needs to survive. Important 8. Clip the Solar unit onto the trap. artificial light affect the relative body parts: the head, thorax and environmental factors for moths are 9. Attach the RED (positive) contact Their largely nocturnal behaviour abundances of moths. abdomen. The two pairs of wings and food-plants, nectar sources to the 12V battery, followed by means moths are often overlooked, but six legs are attached to the thorax. temperature, humidity, and wind the BLACK (negative) contact. they make great subjects for speed. 10. Cover the Solar unit completely Moths and butterflies are all environmental monitoring. Their short and slowly count to 30. The Lepidoptera. Although most butterflies 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. distributions often show clear environment where we find moths to white/blue. Butterflies tend to be more brightly geographic relationships with better understand the ecology of 11. Place the trap in your chosen coloured, but not always – some moths measurable environmental factors. moths. Once we understand the location. The solar cell will ensure are very brightly coloured. Butterflies relationship between the species’ the trap bulb switches on at dusk have clubbed antennae, whereas Despite the many unique and intriguing presence and the environment we can and off at dawn. moths have feathery or simple moth species in New Zealand, we have start to make predictions about how 12. Come back in the morning and antennae. only a small number of professional moths will be affected by climate check the trap. lepidopterists. change.

Recording Cloud Cover: Making a collection Labelling the samples Further information What does that

environmental data UNSURE |CLEAR| MOSTLY CLEAR | To make a reference collection: A word mean? reference collection makes it easier to FOG CLOUDY | MOSTLY CLOUDY | OVERCAST Once you have your moths, put them identify the different species and study Lepidoptera: Moths and butterflies Date: The label is what makes the moth a This guide contains only the most in a cool place or in the fridge. They them. Endemic: Found only in that place Precipitation on trap night: specimen. All labels need: common larger moths in the Otago will calm down so you can look at them Ecosystem: all biological and physical Location: UNSURE | NONE |DRIZZLE | LIGHT To catalogue species: It’s important to region; there are many more moths. If more easily. If you are confident that What: A unique code that refers to just processes interacting in an area RAIN | MODERATE RAIN | HEAVY RAIN ensure that when we talk to other you find a moth that is not on this Region code: DN | OL | SL this one specimen. Include the species Nocturnal: Happens at night many are the same species, you can guide it may be rare, sparse entomologists we can check we are all Community: A group of different Air temperature (°C) count them and release most of them. name if you know it and the name of Latitude: calling the same species the same (widespread but never very numerous), Keep a couple of each species and put the person who identified it. species in an area Ave.: Min.: Max.: name. Sometimes two species look a range extension (not normally in the the rest on some vegetation close to Longitude: very similar and we need a specimen to Otago region), a ‘micro-moth’ or a new Relative humidity (%) Where: The location where the Acknowledgements where you trapped them. be sure of the species identity. Other species (there are many moth species Ave.: Min.: Max.: specimen was trapped. By convention in New Zealand still to be properly 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 4. Place a piece of tracing paper over described and named). partnership between Landcare Research, the Botany Wind Speed (km/h) collection so we do it as quickly and individuals of the same species may the wings and pin the paper (not and Geography Departments of the University of Ave.: Min.: Max.: look very different. Therefore we need When: The collection date, by painlessly as possible. the wings) in place. MothNet resources, guides & posters Otago, Orokonui Ecosanctuary, and a collection of a range of specimens to know the convention this is the day the trap was Otago schools. “Shedding Light on the Night” is funded 5. Place the moth somewhere cool, on the Landcare Research website: 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 – dark and dry and away from live www.landcareresearch.co.nz/mothnet Otago Pilot. NON-IRRIGATED PASTURE | PASTURE | couple of hours; they will go to sleep SCHOOL FIELD | NATIVE GRASSLAND | To compare variation traits: To Who: The name of collector. insects. and then die peacefully. Moths breed Take a photo and post on Facebook The “Beginners’ Guide to the Macro-Moths of Otago” COASTAL | RIVERSIDE | understand the ecology and evolution 6. Depending on the moisture in the was produced by Landcare Research for the “Shedding fast so as long as you don’t trap for MothNet group and ask for help. Light on the Night” project. The overall text, content, EXOTIC GARDEN | NATIVE GARDEN | of species we often need to study the air, it may take 1–3 weeks for the more than a few nights in a row in the Facebook.com/MothNetNZ and design, by Drs Barbara Anderson and Robert Pinning wings to completely dry in place. SHRUBLAND | FOREST same place you won’t impact the local variation between individuals within a Hoare, are part of the ongoing research into the Check them regularly. ecology, distributions, and ecological interactions of moth population. species and between closely related Take a photo and post the photo on Distance to nearest shrub/tree (m): Lepidoptera in the Otago region included in the species. the NatureWatchNZ MothNet project. Coastal, Alpine and Montane Biotic Interactions 0–5 | 6–10 | 11–20 | 21–50 Entomologists collect samples for a 1. Use special stainless steel NatureWatch.org.nz/projects/MothNet research programme. The moth illustrations are by Altitude: Slope: Birgit Rhode, Landcare Research, based on specimens variety of reasons: To detect changes over time: pins. Larger moths need a size 3 pin. Height of surrounding canopy (m): Sometimes we don’t know what will be in the NZAC. Line drawings are by Lily Burrows. We 2. Gently run the pin through the Check the Landcare Research online would like to thank Brian Patrick for help in compiling Aspect: 0–0.3 |0.3–1 | 1–2 | 2–5 | 5–12 | 12+ To describe and classify new species: important in the future. Historical guide to larger moths of New Zealand the list of species for inclusion. FLAT | N | NE | E | SE | S | SW | W | middle of the thorax of the moth. Every new species requires the collections allow entomologists to www.landcareresearch.co.nz/ NW 3. Leave about 1/3 of the pin above designation of a type specimen. The compare species traits over time and the top of the moth. This gives largermoths Sunset: Sunrise: name of the species is hinged on the detect the effect of environmental enough room to hold the pin type specimen. Future revisions and change or predict future changes without touching the moth and Post the specimen to the “Shedding Moon Phase: identifications can then be compared enough room below the moth for Light on the Night” Landcare Research, with this specimen. Logging the data ensures we get the Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 1954. Other light source: the labels. most information from a specimen. [email protected]

Distance to artificial light source:

This work is licensed CreaƟ ve Commons AƩ ribuƟ on-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 New Zealand To view details of this licence go to hƩ p://creaƟ vecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/nz/ Geometridae

Elvia glaucata HelasƟ a cinerearia Poecilasthena schistaria Samana acutata Austrocidaria cedrinodes Ischalis forƟ nata Xanthorhoe semifi ssata

Anachloris subochraria

Epicyme rubropunctaria HelasƟ a corcularia Pseudocoremia cineracia Austrocidaria gobiata Orthoclydon praefectata Xyridacma ustaria Zermizinga indocilisaria Asaphodes abrogata

Epyaxa lucidata HomodoƟ s megaspilata

Austrocidaria parora bilineolata Pseudocoremia indisƟ ncta Asaphodes aegrota

Epyaxa rosearia Pasiphila inductata Pasiphila sphragiƟ s Pseudocoremia leucelaea Declana juncƟ linea Gellonia dejectaria Asaphodes chlamydota

Wiseana copularis Pasiphila lunata

HelasƟ a plumbea Pseudocoremia melinata Austrocidaria similata Declana leptomera Gellonia pannularia

Pasiphila muscosata Wiseana fuliginea

HelasƟ a chrisƟ nae Wiseana mimica Asaphodes clarata Hydriomena deltoidata Pseudocoremia productata Declana fl occosa

Pseudocoremia rudisata Asaphodes prasinias Declana toreuta Horisme suppressaria Hydriomena rixata Pseudocoremia suavis Wiseana jocosa

Graphania lignana Graphania phricias Meterana meyricci Bityla defi gurata Proteuxoa sp. Homohadena forƟ s Tmetolophota propria

AgroƟ s admiraƟ onis

Graphania plena

Meterana ochthisƟ s Bityla sericea Graphania morosa Meterana alcyone Tmetolophota atristriga AgroƟ s infusa Tmetolophota semiviƩ ata

Graphania rubescens

DipausƟ ca epiastra Graphania lithias Meterana sƟ pata Meterana coeleno AgroƟ s ipsilon PhyseƟ ca caerulea Tmetolophota steropasƟ s

Graphania prionisƟ s Graphania mutans Meterana tartarea Graphania chlorodonta Meterana diatmeta AleƟ a cucullina AleƟ a moderata Tmetolophota aconƟ sƟ s

Meterana viƟ osa Graphania disjungens Graphania nullifera Tmetolophota purdii AleƟ a cuneata Meterana decorata Tmetolophota unica

Graphania usƟ striga Erebidae Graphania omoplaca Meterana exquisita Persectania aversa AleƟ a virescens Graphania insignis

Andesia pessota Graphania infensa Graphania paracausta Helicoverpa armigera Meterana grandiosa Meterana coeleno Rhapsa scotosialis Nyctemera annulata