Center for Embedded Network Sensing

The relative abundance of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera was compared to variation in temperature and relative humidity data from the Trailfinder Weather Station at James Reserve. A light trap was constructed and used in association with the NIMS 2 imager to record insect visitations. The trap consisted of a black light contained in a 19.5 ��× 19.5 ��× 10 inches covered with a white sheet. An additional light above the trap provided illumination for insect identification. A visitation event was defined as when an insect first became immobile on the illuminated area of the insect box. Images were captured every five minutes from 9PM to 5AM on July 30th through August 12th 2005. From independent, direct observation, the average residence time of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera is 34 minutes and 36 minutes respectively. This indicates that a photograph every five minutes provides sufficient resolution. The abundance of Coleoptera was strongly correlated with temperature and weakly with humidity. The abundance of Lepidoptera was weakly correlated with both temperature and humidity.