Attraction of Moths to Light

[Dave Chesmore]

Liz Day commented:

"Meaning then that those species of moth would make awfully
interesting controls for a study on light attraction.  

Oh well!  In a parallel universe."

I don't know of any current work on moths but there is considerable 
interest in so-called target technology for pest management.  Targets 
are basically devices to attract insects to a point where pesticides or 
IGRs can be applied, reducing pesticide use.  I know of research 
carried out on midges which suggests that different species are 
attracted differently BUT the particular work has substantial flaws 
such as averaging light levels over distance (intensity decreases as 
1/square of distance) or employing lux as a unit (lux is a human eye 
response measurement and has a response of 0 in UV).  2 of the 
papers I have are contradictory - one says intensity is the primary 
factor and not colour, the other says colour and not intensity!  Also 
one paper gives the output of a 100W tungsten lamp as over 400 lux 
and the other 22 lux for the same power.  One paper also tried to 
directly compare normal incandescent lamps with fluorescent lamps 
which produce line spectra and have a totally different shape

Much needs to be done and correctly.  Camera-based tracking 
systems should be a useful tool.  Does anyone know whether these 
have been used?

Dr David Chesmore, FRES
Environmental Electronics Research Group
Dept. of Electronic Engineering
University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX
Tel: +482 465062;  Fax: +482 466664
Email:  E.D.Chesmore at E-Eng.Hull.AC.UK
Web page: http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/eepmds/home.htm