temperature sensitive?

Robert Kriegel kriegelr at pilot.msu.edu
Mon Jun 15 09:36:15 EDT 1998


Causal observations of moths attracted to lights suggests that (1) moth
flight is indeed sensitive to temperature, and (2) this sensitivity is
different for different kinds of moths (i.e. there is no one minimum
temperature threshold for all moths).  Many moth collects use 50F as a rule
of thumb for a temperature below which few moths fly.  On the other hand,
moths in the family Geometridae are often active when the air temperature
is in the mid to low 40s.  In Michigan, we have observed the Columbian
silkmoth, Hyalophora columbia, to be quite active at air temperatures as
low as 37F.

Bob Kriegel  <kriegelr at pilot.msu.edu>
Michigan State University


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