Swarming patterns of light trapped individuals of caddisfly species (Trichoptera) in Central Europe

Abstract

AbstractThis study is on the light trapping of caddisfly species (Insecta: Trichoptera) related to the proportion of males and females and the moon phases. The data collected includes 24 species in 9 light-trap stations, for 49 swarming events between the years 1980 and 2000. We found the massive emergence of adults happens fractionally in swarming intervals. This is connected with the phenology and life cycle of each species. The percentage of males and females of the same species during different swarming events cannot be considered equal. The proportion of males and females are different in the swarming of different species. We found that the number of male and female individuals is substantially synchronized with each other within the swarming, but it can be different in the case of each species. The duration of the swarming, even in the same species, are not always uniform. The effect of the Moon cannot be clearly identified in any species, even if data from several swarmings are available. The swarming peaks appear near different Moon quarters.