Seasonal fluctuations of the proportions of three major moth families and their species in the middle part of Yamaguchi Prefecture

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TThhee LLeepipdiopdteorpoltoegircaollSoocgieitycal Society ooff JJaapapnan
ueLwh 7)ans. iepictSoc.lapan 48 (4):264-270,Novernber 1997

Seasonal fluctuation sof the proportion sof three major moth familie sand
their species in the middle part of Yamaguchi Prefecture
Yasuko IToi}T,omonori INouE2),Weihua KoNG3),Akira YAMANAKA2)

KatsuhikoENDo2)
and
i) The Hagi CityMuseum, Hagi 7S8,Japan

Z) Environmental Biology Laboratory ,Biologica lInstitu tFea,culty of Science,
Yamaguchi University,Yamaguchi 753,Japan

3) Institu toef Cell Biology ,Life Scienc eCollege of Shandong University,
Jinan,Shandong Province,China

Abstract Moths were caught by a ligh ttrap at three research sites in the middle part of
Yamaguchi. The survey was made at one-month interval sfor three years .The numbers of
moths and of species caught at each research site fiuctuate sdeasonally in almost the same
patterns . Noctuidae moths represented almost the same proportion throughout the year.
Geometridae moths decreased b,ut those ofthe Pyralida einerease din proportio nduring summer.
The patterns of seasonal fluctuation of the moth populations appear te be common throughout
the mountain part sof Yamaguchi,
Key words Moths, seasonal fiuctuatio npso,pulation size, three major farnili eYsa,maguchi.
Introduction
The number of moth species caught in Japan has reached more than fiv ethousands species,
the majority ofwhich may inhabi tJapan (Kawab eet al., 1995). The sum ofmoth spocies
reported to be caught in the Yamaguchi area hithert ois more than one thousand seven
hundred (Oka ,1988 ,1995; Mitoki, I995) .This is about one-third of the moth species
inJapan.
recorded
The numbers of moths and moth species caught by a ligh ttrap varied according to time of
day, region and some other circumstances. Diversity in the size ef moth collections may
occur with a close relationship to the time-zon efbr moth activities and to the fluctuation sof
the size of moth populations which may be affected by seasonal, meteorological, floral,
artificial and some other factors,
The species ratios of certain moth groups ,referred to as AC-, SGL- and PG-indices ,were
shown to vary among the distric otfs Japan. The ACindex (Noctuid asheow)ing the ratio
of the number of Amphipyrinae species against the Catocalina eand Ophiderinae species is
estimated to be higher in mountains or in northern place sthan in lowland sor in southern
places ofJapan (Kobayas hanid Miyata, 1968). The SGL-index (Geometrid athee) r,atio of
Larentiinae species against Geometrinae and Sterrhina especies, and PG-index (Pyralidael
Pyralidae+Geometrjdae) t,he ratio of Pyralidae (s l. )species against Pyralidae (s L) and
Geometridae species, also show difleren tvalues depending on the ecological state of the
fbrest osr on distri c(tSat o1,971 ; Tomida and Ichihash i1,973).
In this paper, we make an attemPt te investiga htoew the proponion ofmoths, as well as that
in Yamaguchi, be
of moth species, changed seasonally mountain areas of which may exposed
to les sartificial effects than urban areas.
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Seasonal Fluctuation osf Three Major Moth Families in Yamaguehi Prefbcture 265
Materials and methods
Collection
of moths
Field survey was carried out at three research sites selected in the middle part of Yamaguchi
Pref i The survey was started in March 1995 and was made at about one-menth interva !fsor
three years (l994-199 6)A,t each research site ,a ligh ttrap was set up about lhr before
sunset. Each ligh ttrap was composed of a white cloth (2mX4m), three 40-W white
fiuoresce nttubes and three 40-W black light swith or without a 250-W mercury lamp. As
many as possibl emoths were caught by insec tnets and glas sbottle sfbr a 2- or 3-hour period
fbllowing The killed All
sunset, moths were with carbontetrachloride, moths caught at
each research site were brought back to laborator yand stored at -350C.
Numbers of moths caught Qn each research day were counted and voucher specimens were
made for identificati onW.hen more than fiv eindividual osf the same species were caught
on the same day, fiv emoths were selected as voucher specimens and others were discarded.
Selectio nof research sites
Research sites consisting of a small fla tspace were selected according to several factor :s
existence ofsuMcient area to set up a ligh ttrap, distance osf more than 1oo m from the nearest
house and the nearest farm, and existence ofdeciduous broad-leaved and pine forests .Three
research sites, i.e .Iitntu '(iToku jTiown ; 131"45'E ,34016'N) ,Koma (Hag iCity ; 131023'E,
34018'N) and Iwanagadai (Shuh oTown ; 131021.7'E ,34013'N )at altitudes of250-3oo m, were
selected fbr the fiel dsurvey fbr three years (1994-1996).
Identification
of moth species
Species ofmoths were identifi eacdeording to "Moths of Japan" (Inou eet al., l982) or by
comparison with the standard specimens of moths collected in Yamaguchi Pref lkept in the
Hagi CityMuseum.

Res"lts discussion
and
Moths infield
cauglit researches
Field surveys were carried out at three research sites, Funaji (Toko jTiown), Koma (Hagi
City) and Iwanagadai (Shuh oTown), at about one-month interva lfsbr three years.
Numbers of moths and species caught at each research site varied in each year examined.
The Funaji 5,283,5,252 2,741individualisn1994,1995
moth collections at consisted of and
and 1996 ,and were composed of 672, 609 and 498 species, respectively. Moth collections
large rthan those from Funaji were obtained in Koma. The collections reached 5,206 ,1 1,1 I5
and 5,761 individual isn 1994, 1995 and 1996, and were composed of 573, 799 and 586 species,
respectively. At Iwanagadai, the size of moth collections and the number of moth species
were smaller compared with the other twe collections. The collections were composed of
4,701 ,2,884 and 2,903 individual asnd of 562, 470 and 494 species in 1994 ,1995 and l996,
respectively.
The larges tsizes of moth populations were recorded in Koma in 1995, and in Funaji 'and
lwanagadaiin 1994, Population be limitedby factors,
sizes may circumstantial such as
rainfa11, atmospheric temperature and vegetation, and by some other accidental ones.
Seasona lfiuctuatio nosf the proponions of mQth colloctions and species
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266Yasuko ITo, Tomonori INouE, Weihua KoNq Akira YAMANAKA and Katsuhiko ENDo
30
t".hvov.oL=-osLogEo'
400
AEEv--NL--=t-Nct
300
20
200
10
1OO
o2000 o

coU$.Evodz
1OOO
o
200
uto--cooam--odz
1OO
o
1994 1995 1996
Fig. 1. Seasonal fluctuations of atmospheric temperature, rainfa11, the size of moth collections
and the numbers of species during this three-year survey, Open triangles and histograms
show the fiuctuatio nins temperature and rainfa11 in each 10-day periQd (uppe rpanel).
Histograms show the fluctuatio nisn the average size of moth collections (midd lpeanel)
and in the average numbers of specios (lowe pranel )obtained at three research sites,
respectively.
The size of moth collections as well as the numbers of species fluctuate sdeasonally with the
fluctuation sof atmospheric temperature in this three-year survey (Fig .1 : upper and middle
panels). The larges stizes ef collections were recorded in June 1995 in Koma, in June 1994
in Funaji and in June 1994 in Iwanagadai (Fig 3.).
Few moths were caught at any research site in January and February, The size of moth
collections began to increas ien March with the risin gof atmospheric temperature and reached
a peak in June, The collectien size'decreased temporarily in July and August (th ehottest
season in the year) ,but formed a second peak in September 1994 and 1995 . A temporary
decreas ein the size of population swas observed in July and August 1994 and 1995, but did
not occur in 1996 . Thereafter ,the size of moth collections decreased quickty toward
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Seasonal Fluctuations of Three Major Moth Families in Yamaguchi Prefecture 267
2SO
moooacovopUooU-.-ocoLvDE=z
200
adai)
150
1OO
50
o
O 500 1000 1500 2000
Sizes
of moth collections
Fig. 2. The numbers ofcollected species with reference to the size ofmoth collections. Each
note shows the collections of month, year and the research site, respectiyely.
December as the months went by.
Numbers of moth species also fiuctuat esdeasonally with a similar patter nto the fluctuations
ofthe size ofmoth coliections. But, the decrea sobeserved in the size ofmoth collections in
July and August was not as apparent as that ofthe numbers ofmoth species (Fig 1, : middle
panel).
The seasonal fiuctuatio nisn the numbers of species were clQsely related to the fluctuatio nisn
the size ofmoth collections (Fi g1. : middle and lower panels) , That is ,the species numbers
caught at each fiel dresearch place were estimated to be one-fburth of the numbers of moth
collections when smaller than 750 individual s.But, there were two exceptions in that the
October collections, i995 and 1996 ,consisted of a number of species smaller than one-fburth
of the individual s(Fig 2.) . On these two October days ,the atmospheric temperatures were
280C and 290C (199 5and 1996) ,which were far higher than the 20eC in 1994 . This may be
an after£ ffec tof typhoons passing near the town of Yamaguchi.
The size of moth collections as well as the number of species may fluctuat eseasonally with
two peaks occurring in June and September in the middle part ofYamaguchi. The size of
moth population sas well as the number of species may fiuctuate seasonally, and the size of
moth bollection sand the number ofcollected species may fluctuat eat each Tesearch site, The
fluctuati npgattems of the size of moth populations may be common threugh the regions at
altitude 2oo-3oo in Yamaguchi.
an of m
Seasenal fiuctuation sof the proponions of moth collectiens of three major famMes
Average proportion sof the Noctuidae, Geometridae and Pyralida ecollections were 30.8%,
23.9% and 20.4% in this throe-year survey, respectively {Fig. 3u:pper panels). Propenions
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268YasukoITo, Tomonori INouit ,Weihua KoNG, Akira YAMANAKA and Katsuhiko ENDo
Proporti ons of three fami1y col1ecti ons
Noctuidae Geometridae Pyralidae Others
Proporti ons of three fami1y speci es
Noctuidae Geometridae PyralidaeOthers
60co5*
40s*

20

o
60
8･6
40gco*

20
o
F. A. J. A. O. D, F. A. J. A. O. D. F, A. J. A. O, D.
Fig. 3. Proportiona lfluctuatio nofsmoth collections and species ofthree major familie swith
it sseasonal fluctuatio ns.Histograms show the average prepenions of collection sizes
and collected species in three major rnoth familie (suppe pranel) .Histograms show the
fiuctuatio nosf the average pToportion sQf the Noctuidae, Geometridae and Pyralidae
collections (midd lpeanel) in addition to tbe proportional fiuctuatio nofscollected spocies
(lowe pranel).
of the Geometridae and Pyralida ecollections showed fuctuation sseasonally in ranges of 17-
60% and 3-32%. But, the proportio nof the Noctuidae collections was almost constant
throughou Mtarch to November (Fi g3. : middle panels),
The propouion ofthe Geometridae in collections was large ,60-65%, in March. It decrcased
with the rising of atmospheric temperature and reached a minimum, 17-20%, in July or
August. Thereafter ,the proponion increase dagain and reached 40-45% in Decernber. The
proportio nof the Pyralida ein collections showed a contrasting fiuctuat itoo nthat of the
Geometridae , That is ,the Pyralidae proponion was small, 3%, in March, increase dwith the
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Seasona lFluctuations of Three Major Moth Familie sin Yamaguchi Prefecture 269
decrease of the Geometridae propouion and reached a peak, 32%, in August. Thereafter ,it
decrease dgradual] ywith the incremen tof the Geometridae proponion (Fig .3: middle
panels).
With respect to the proponions of the species, the Noctuidae ,Gcometridae and Pyralidae
were 34.6% ,22.7% and 17,2% in this three-yea rsurvey, respectively. The seasonal fluctuation
in the proportio nof the Noctuidae species was small, but the proportion softhe Geometridae
and Pyralida eshowed apparent fluctuatio nsesasonally in similar pattern sto those shown by
the proponions of the Geometridae and Pyralida ecollections (Fi g3. : lower panels).
In the middle part of Yamaguchi, the population sizes of the Noctuidae, Geemetridae and
Pyralida emoths may show seasonal fluctuatio nofs differe nptatterns . The fiuctuatio nofs
moth populatien sappear to occur with a close relation to the fluctuatio nofs the number of
moth species. The patterns ofthe seasonal fiuctuatio nwhsich the three major tTie tfhamilies
showed in the size of moth populations and the number of species appear' to be common
throughout the area of Yamaguchi.
References
]noue ,H., Sugi ,S. ,Kuroko, H., Moriuti ,S. ,Kawabe, A. and M. Owada, 1982. Moths of 'Jlipa n1 : 1-
968;2: 1-556 ,pls 1-392 . Kodansha, Tokyo, (In Japanese).
Inoue, T., Ito ,Y., Yamanaka, A. and K. Endo, 1996. A moth study in the east and middle parts of
Yamaguchi Prefecture Vltl : Seasonal fiuctuation sin the proportion sof the numbers of three moth
familie s.}lzmcrguch iSethuts u23 : 28-33 (i nJapanese).
Inoue, T., lto, Y., Yamanaka, A., Endo, K. and T. Sato, I996, A study oflarval food plant ofthe moths
in Yamaguchi. Ydinaguchi Sethuts u23 : 44-5I (i nJapanese).
Tto ,Y., Inoue, T., Yamanaka, A. and K. Endo, 1996. A moth study in the east and middle part sof
Yamaguchi Prefbcture VII : Seasonal fiuctuation sof the moth collections and it sspecies. Ydmagu-
chi Slethut s2u3 : 28-33 (i nJapanese).
Kawabe, T., Sugi, S,, Shir6zu, T., Moriuti, S. and H. Tamauchi, 1995. Invertebrates II (Lepidoptera).
List sof ewil dOrganisms of .lapan : 52I-602, Japan Wild Llfe Research Center.
Kobayashi, T. and A.Miyata, 1968. The moth-fauna of Sugadaira plateau and its suburbs. Buza
Sugadoira bio ZLab. Tbkyo K),oiku Univ ,2: 40-81, pl.1 (i nJapanese) . ..
Mitoki ,T.. 1995 . New insec tspocies caught in years fb!lowin gthe publication of"Insects ofYamaguchi
Prefecture" '.I}zsect sYtimaguchi Pref 55 : 39-52 (i nJapanese).
Mitoma, E,, Jto, Y. and K. Endo, 1995. A moth study in the east and middle parts of Yamaguchi
Prefecture IV : Seasonal fiuctuatio nofsthe numbers ofmoths and it sspecies, Yamaguehi Sbthutsu
22: 39-43(inJapanese).

Oka, S,, 1988. Lepidoptera (Moths) .7"Z! einsects of Ykemaguchi Ptefecture : 29-30, 83-113, pls 11-14.
YarnaguchiMuseum. (InJapanese).

1995. Further fourty-fo usrpecies ofmoths from Yamaguchi Prefectur e.lapan Hbterocerists'
,
J. (186):176-178(inJapanese).

Sato, R., 1971. [Moth fauna of the Yahiko-group mountains]. [Buz aClenter sci Edua IVZshthama
District ]2: 68-75 (in Japanese),
Tomida, Y. and H. Ichihashi ,1973 . insec tfuuna of Seasid bArea and island sin Kiinagashima. Mie
Prqfectunl Jdpan, 108 pp. Kiinagashima £ ho, Mie. (In japanese).
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270　　 Yasuko　JTo，　Tomonori　INouE，　Weihua　KoNG，　Akira　YAMANAKA 　and 　Katsuhiko　ENDo
摘 要
・ ・
山口 県中部にお ける蛾類の個体数お よび種数の割合の季節的変動 （伊藤靖子 井上智典 孔維
・ ・
華 山中明 遠藤克彦）
口本国内で は 5000種を越える蛾の採集記録があり，山口県内で も その 1／3 に当た る L700種の蛾
， ， ，
の採集報告がある．これ ら蛾類の個体数と種類数が，山口県中部の山間地域で季節的に どのように変
化するか また個体数と種数の 占める割合が大 きい ヤ ガ科Noctuidae シ ャ クガ科Geometridaeお よび
， ，
メイガ科 （広義）Pyralidae （s．　L）の個体数と種数の全体に 占める割合が，季節的に どの よ うに変化 す
るの か を検討した．その結果．ライ トトラ ップで採集される蛾類 の個体数は 6月 と9月に ピークを持
つ 双 峰的な変化 を示 し，その構成種類数 もそれ と似た変化 を示 す と推定 された．また，ヤ ガ 科
Noctuidaeの個体数 （また は種類数）が 占め る割合 は．季節的に殆 ど変化 しな い が，シャ クガ 科
G。。metridae とメイガ科 Pyralidacの個体数 （また は種類数）の割合は季節に よっ て大 き く異な り，
シャ クガ科 Geometridaeは夏 と秋にその 占め る割合が高く，メイガ科 Pyralidaeは夏に占め る割合が
高くなる とい う対照的な もので あっ た．
これ ら野外調査で観察された蛾類の個体数と種類数お よび割合の変化は，野外に おける蛾類の個体群
の変化を反映した もので ある と推察された．
（Accepted　July　l　8，1997）
Published　by　the　Lepidopterologic　aSlociet　yof 亅apan ，
c／oOgata 　Building2−17　lmabashi　3−chome ，　Chuo−ku，　Osaka，541　Japan
， ，
一
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