DOI: 10.5061/dryad.m37pvmdgz
title: Do camera light traps for moths provide similar data as conventional funnel light traps?

description: The dataset contains moth recordings of field surveys conducted from April
 to September 2023 in a forest and open land habitat in north-west Germany.
 Moths were sampled using traditional funnel traps (FLT) and a new camera
 light trap (CLT). The camera light trap was operated through the whole
 season (196 nights), while funnel trapping events took place at 12
 selected nights through the flight season. Cameras (Sony Alpha 7II) took
 images of a screen (24 cm x 36 cm) every 2 min. Funnel light traps were
 checked the next morning. All traps were operated between dusk and dawn
 and used a LepiLED Mini switch from Insects & Light, Jena,
 Germany. Moths were determined using Steiner et al. (2014): Die
 Nachtfalter Deutschlands (ISBN 9783000438622). This study is the first
 systematically comparison of both methods. Overall, CLTs performed very
 well. Results from CLTs differ to a certain extent from conventional
 trapping methods because they seem to perform worse in groups with highly
 active species and perform better in calmer groups like geometrid moths.
 CLTs are promising devices for insect monitoring since they deliver data
 with high resolution in time, space and taxonomy. We provide: Raw data of
 each individual moth sampled in the surveys, a compiled species list
 including information on German trivial names, status of endangerment as
 well as the species number of the refence literature and a table of all
 species photographed with species name and date/time.
description: # Do camera light traps for moths provide similar data as conventional
 funnel light traps? The dataset for Holzhauer, Böttger, Bodesheim &
 Brehm (2026): Do camera light traps for moths provide similar data as
 conventional funnel light traps? can be accessed at Dryad:
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m37pvmdgz](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m37pvmdgz) We provide: Raw data of each individual moth sampled in the surveys (**CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps_Individuals.csv**), a compiled species list including information on German trivial names, status of endangerment, as well as the species number of the reference library (**CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps_SpeciesList.csv**), and a table of all species photographed with species name and date/time (**CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps_Pictures.csv**). ## Descriptions All individual specimens recorded in both trapping techniques are listed in **CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps**_Individuals with all information on sampling event and taxonomy. For individuals that were only determined up to a species complex (mostly on the images), we provide the species name used in the analyses. Additionally, there is information on all individuals photographed. We provide the time of the first recording, and if a moth appeared on consecutive images (interval between images = 2 minutes), we consider these as one appearance. For these appearances, total durations are available. All species handled in this survey are listed under **CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps**_SpeciesList with specific information on endangerment in the province and nationwide, if listed in the respective so-called "red list" (Rote Liste). Each species name has information on the number in Steiner et al. (2014). Images showing moths are listed in **CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps**_Pictures with the exact timestamp of the photograph. All species photographed are represented as column names. If a species is photographed at a certain timepoint, we mark it accordingly. ### CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps_Individuals * *running*: running number for filtering the individuals list in a default order * *traptype*: sampling method * camera_light_trap = individuals sampled by the camera * vane_trap = individuals captured in the funnel trap equipped with vanes * *habitat*: location of the trap * forest = a trap surrounded by trees * open_land = trap surrounded by grassland * *Date_start*: start date of each trapping event. Trapping started in the evening and ended the next morning. * *Group*: discrimination against Microlepidoptera, which are not included in the analyses * *Family*: Currently valid taxonomic information for the family level * *Genus*: Currently valid taxonomic information for genus level * *species*: Currently valid taxonomic information for the species level * *species_name_for_analyses*: information on species complexes. Individuals that could be determined to species level in one trap type but only to a complex in the other are assigned to a species complex for analyses * *Species_complex*: boolean - Information on species complex * True = Individual assigned to species complex * False = Individual determined to species * *Observation_ID*: unique identifier of each sampled individual in both funnel traps and appearances in consecutive camera data * *included_in_analyses*: boolean - Information on individuals being included in analyses. Not included are all Microlepidoptera as well as Macrolepidoptera that are determined up to the genus level * True = Individual included in analyses * False = Individual not included * *count*: always a "1" for data handling * *comparison*: all funnel traps are compared with the corresponding camera light trap * *Appearance_start*: only camera data: start time of the appearance of a moth * *Duration[min]*: only camera data: duration of an appearance in minutes ### CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps_SpeciesList * *Group*: discrimination against Microlepidoptera, which are not included in the analyses * *Family*: Currently valid taxonomic information at the family level * *Genus*: Currently valid taxonomic information at genus level * *species_name_for_analyses*: information on species complexes. Individuals that could be determined to species level in one trap type but only to a complex in the other are assigned to a species complex for analyses * *Species_complex*: boolean - Information on species complex * True = Individual assigned to species complex * False = Individual determined to species * *German common name*: species name in German * *Author*: information on valid taxonomic description * *red list status GER 2011*: current endangerment status of a species in Germany * "*" = unthreatened * 1 = Critically endangered * 2 = Endangered * 3 = Vulnerable * not applicable = this species is not listed in the Red List * V = Pre-alert stage * *red list status NRW 20/21*: current endangerment status of a species in North Rhine-Westphalia. * Details = see above * *red list status NRW 2010*: endangerment status of a species in North Rhine-Westphalia by 2010 * Details = see above * *# in Steiner et al (2014)*: species identities in Steiner et al. (2014): "Die Nachtfalter Deutschlands" (The moths of Germany). All individuals were determined using this book. ### CameraLighTrapsVsTraditionalFunnelTraps_Pictures * *Date*: Night of the recording of one individual moth * *Time*: timestamp of the photograph, which shows one individual moth * *Date_Time*: combination of Date and Time from above for increased usability * *speciesnames*: entries of a species being present in a photo of a given time stamp