moth research

[Roger C. KENDRICK]

Hi Andrea,

>
> i'm embarking on a new 'adventure'. i'll be seriously doing moth research
> in singapore now. the problem i have is that there are no reference books
> for singapore.
Just the same as for Hong Kong!!  But do you intend to study on a full
time hobby basis?

> what books would you recommend? (halloway? barlow? ... )
Checkout the full references on the Hong Kong Moths home page (the
direct URL to the references is
http://web.hku.hk/~kendrick/mp.htm#references) to the texts mentioned
below.
Holloway's Moths of Borneo series is definitely the most comprehensive
work, but is a little technical. More expensive, although just as good
(and covering some of the "micro" moths), is the Heterocera Sumatrana
series. This is also in the process of being produced in parts. The main
text is in German, although English summaries are given for new species
descriptions. The two core introductory guides are Barlow's Moths of
South-east Asia and the more recent book on micros - The Smaller Moths
of South East Asia, by Robinson, Tuck & Shaffer.
There are a few papers on Singaporean moths - I'll dig out the details
for you.

> what books can you recommend for an absolute beginner in moth research and
> collecting?

M.Scoble's book for biology and ecology, as well as taxonomy (The
Lepidoptera: Form, Function & Diversity)
For collecting, there is a very good small book by the Amateur
Entomologists' Society (in the U.K.) called the Lepidopterist's
Handbook. I can't recall the author's name right now, but will look it
up shortly. Covers all you need to know about curation and so on.
Also by the A.E.S., is Paul Waring & Reg Fry (editors), 1995 - A Guide
to Moth Traps and their Use. This concentrates on practical field work
skills, the various trapping techniques and the theory behind the
electonics involved in light trapping.

Hope this helps,

Roger.

________________________________________________
Roger C. KENDRICK   B.Sc.(Hons.)
PhD student & Demonstrator, Dept of Ecology & Biodiversity
The University of Hong Kong
mailto:kendrick at hkusua.hku.hk
http://web.hku.hk/~kendrick/hkmoth.htm   + Hong Kong Moths ;
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/1085/   + H.K. Lepidoptera
Group ;
mail: Kadoorie Agricultural Research Centre
      The University of Hong Kong
      Lam Kam Road, Shek Kong,
      Yuen Long, New Territories
      Hong Kong
fax: (852) 24885285
=================================================