DOI: 10.5061/dryad.d7wm37qcv
title: Larger and polymorphic noctuid moths tend to show less inter-annual abundance variation in the canopy of a temperate forest

description: Inter-annual variation in insect abundance and seasonal phenology can be
 related to species traits such as body size, larval diet, overwintering
 stage, and colour variations. We sampled noctuid moths in the canopy of a
 forest in Western Poland using flight-interception traps during two
 vegetative seasons. We calculated inter-annual variation for 31 species,
 and the date of peak abundance and the length of the flight season for 18
 species. We found that for the 23 species for which we had phylogenetic
 information, larger moths and those with adult colour variation showed
 less inter-annual abundance variation, which corroborates results of
 previous studies. We found no indication that phenological traits are
 associated with the tested species traits. However, species that can feed
 on the dominant broad-leaved tree in which the traps were placed (Quercus
 petraea) tended to have a later date of peak abundance than other species.
 To draw more robust conclusions, future research should encompass a longer
 time span and a broader range of species.
description: # Larger and polymorphic noctuid moths tend to show less inter-annual
 abundance variation in the canopy of a temperate forest Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.d7wm37qcv](10.5061/dryad.d7wm37qcv) ## Description of the
 data and file structure To obtain body size data, we measured the forewing
 length and thorax width of up to ten individuals of each species. We used
 specimens from our traps whenever possible, but completed the data using
 other specimens collected in the region. We then calculated wing loading
 as wing length2/thorax width3. To obtain information on larval diet,
 overwintering stage, feeding period, and migratory behaviour, we used
 authoritative websites (Wagner, 2024; Lepiforum, 2020; Jonko, 2020).
 Polymorphism was defined as the presence of multiple, discrete variants
 (or morphs) within a single population, the rarest of which is too common
 to be solely due to recurrent mutation (McLean and Stuart-Fox, 2014; Gray
 and McKinnon, 2007; Ford, 1945). Our assessment of polymorphism was based
 on our own catches of moths, mainly in Central Europe, and reflects the
 range of variability documented in the literature for the entire European
 range of the species (Lepiforum, 2020). A prominent example in our sample
 is the large yellow underwing *Noctua pronuba* (Linnaeus, 1758), which
 exhibits a wide range of colour forms (Cook and Sarsam, 1981). Another
 example is the dark arches *Apamea monoglypha*(Hufnagel, 1766), which has
 light and dark colour forms (Askew et al., 1971). Larval diet was parsed
 in four ways. First, we distinguished species by their ability to feed on
 oak trees (the tree species in which traps were hung) as specialists of
 oak, generalists including oak, or non-oak feeding. Secondly, we
 classified moths as specialists, oligophagous, generalists, or
 grass-feeding. Third, we classified them by growth form (tree, herb, tree
 & herb, grass). Finally, we classified them based on food type:
 leaves, roots, or stems. The overwintering stage was classified as egg,
 larva, pupa, or adult. Larval feeding period was classified as spring,
 summer, autumn, and combinations thereof, or the entire growth season.
 Whether a species is known to migrate or to have extensive adult colour
 variation within populations was coded as yes or no. ### Files and
 variables #### **Data** NoctuidMothComparativeDataPoland_Dryad.csv has
 information about 31 species of moth. MothDataFULL_Dryad.csv has a line
 for each individual. Missing data are indicated with 'n/a'. This
 can occur when there is, for example, no comment for a data line, when
 there is no data because the species was too rare, or when a label was
 partly illegible. #### **NoctuidMothComparativeDataPoland** | Variable |
 Explanation | | :-------------------------- |
 :------------------------------------------------------------- | | No | a
 number to order | | Spec | species name | | Y\_2019 | Abundance in 2019 |
 | Y\_2020 | Abundance in 2020 | | year\_to\_year\_variation | interannual
 variation as 1-(minimum/maximum) | | OakDiet | whether the caterpillars
 feed on oak | | mean\_TW | mean Thorax width (mm) | | mean\_FWL | mean
 forewing length (mm) | | mean\_WATV | mean wing loading (wing area/thorax
 volume) | | DietSpecialization | degree of dietary specialization | |
 PlantForm | plant form on which caterpillars feed | | FoodType | part of
 plant on which caterpillars feed | | OverwinteringStage | overwintering
 stage, no = overwintering in mediteranean!) | | FeedigPeriodSimple | when
 caterpillars feed in a few categories | | FeedingPeriod | when
 caterpillars feed in detail | | colourPolymorhism | if an adult shows
 multiple color forms | | Migrant | if species shows migrations or mass
 dispersals | | First\_Above\_Zero2019 | first day the curve is above 0 in
 2019 | | First\_Above\_Zero2020 | first day the curve is above 0 in 2020 |
 | Average\_First\_Above\_Zero | average of the above compared to March
 1st. | | Last\_Above\_Zero2019 | last day the curve is above 0 in 2019 | |
 Last\_Above\_Zero2020 | last day the curve is above 0 in 2020 | |
 Max\_Abundance\_Date2019 | date of peak abundance in 2019 | |
 Max\_Abundance\_Date2020 | date of peak abundance in 2020 | |
 Max\_Abundance2019 | height of peak of the curve in 2019 | |
 Max\_Abundance2020 | height of peak of the curve in 2020 | |
 LengthFlightSeasonNUM2019 | length of the flight season in 2019 in days |
 | LengthFlightSeasonNUM2020 | length of the flight season in 2020 in days
 | | AvFlightSeason | average length of the flight season | |
 Days\_Since\_March12019 | date of peak abundance in 2019 compared to March
 1st (in days) | | Av\_Days\_Since\_March1 | average timing of peak
 abundance compared to March 1st in days | | Days\_Since\_March1\_2020 |
 date of peak abundance in 2020 compared to March 1st (in days) |
 **MothDataFULL_Dryad** |   | Unique ID number | | :------------ |
 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Trap | Trap number indicating top and bottom collectors | | Date | Date of trap servicing | | CorrectDate | Format of date and typos  corrected | | CorrectSimple | Date assigned to trap servicing = middle of period if it took multiple days | |  Count | number of individuals (always 1) | | Genus | genus of the moth | | Species | species of the moth | | Spec | Genus\_species | | Sex | male or female if known (dissected specimens) | | Y | year of collection | | Family | Moth family | | Comments | comments | | Qstaple | if the moth uses oak as a staple larval food | | Qalt | If the moth can occasionally feed on oak | | TrapNo | Trap number | | Top\_Bot | top (T)  or bottom (B) collector | ## Code/software Data can be used in e.g., Excel or R programs. ## Access information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * n/a Data was derived from the following sources: * n/a