Cortegada Island launches moth monitoring program

The Xunta de Galicia has launched a pioneering program to monitor nocturnal moths on Cortegada Island, located within the Atlantic Islands National Park. The initiative aims to identify the local moth community and establish a long-term data series to evaluate population health.

In the initial sampling conducted early this summer, researchers recorded 127 specimens representing more than 40 different taxa in a single night. The study utilized LED light funnel traps placed in two distinct habitats: an open pine forest in the south and a mixed forest of laurel, oak, and pine in the center. The low overlap of species between the two sites highlights the ecological differences between these habitats.

Monitoring will continue from March to November with sampling intervals of 15 to 30 days. The process requires specific environmental conditions, including a minimum temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, minimal wind, and no rain throughout the night. Researchers also record temperature, wind speed, cloud cover, and lunar phases during each visit.