PHOTOSTORY
There are over 3,000 known species of moths in South Tyrol. Despite the great diversity of these nocturnal insects, however, there are few experts who study them. For this reason, a network of research groups is testing automated monitoring methods. The Institute for Alpine Environment, in particular, has placed three AMI traps - AMI stands for Automated Monitoring of Insects - in three sites throughout South Tyrol to collect data on the moths that live there. Each AMI trap can be activated and deactivated automatically at set times and is powered by a solar panel. For this reason, these traps can remain installed for months without the need of an operator to go into the field to turn it on or replace its batteries.
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Researchers set up the AMI trap to automatically activate late in the evening, when most moths begin to fly and feed.
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The AMI-trap is equipped with an ultraviolet light source that attracts moths. They land on a white panel, triggering a camera that captures them. The images obtained in this way, thousands per night, will be analyzed by artificial intelligence trained to recognize individual species. It is a convenient and minimally invasive monitoring method. In fact, to obtain the same number of identifications using traditional methods, an entomologist would have to spend several nights in the field and capture thousands of specimens.
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Attracted by the ultraviolet light emitted by the AMI-trap, a moth lands on the white panel fitted to the device.
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Lithosia quadra, the four-spotted footman (left) and Lomaspilis marginata, the clouded border moth (right).
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Lymantria monach, the nun moth.
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The Rosy footman, Miltochrista miniata (left) and the scarce black arches moth, Nola aerugula (right).
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Some predatory species take advantage of the huge gathering of moths and other insects near the AMI-trap to get some food. In the photo, a mantis lurks among dozens of potential prey resting on the device’s white panel.
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Some of the insects attracted by the AMI-trap’s UV light end up trapped in the web of this wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi).
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The tests conducted with the AMI-trap are part of a pilot project aimed at testing automated biodiversity monitoring methods. At the three sites monitored as part of this project, researchers have installed not only AMI traps, but also automatic recorders for birds and bats.
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PHOTOSTORY
The natural sites included in the pilot project are also part of the South Tyrol Biodiversity Monitoring (BMS) project. In the photo, Jarek Scanferla and Lukas Griem are busy monitoring birdlife.
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Shedding light on the nocturnal world of moths
There are over 3,000 known species of moths in South Tyrol. Despite the great diversity of these nocturnal insects, however, there are few experts who study them. To compensate for the scarcity of entomologists specializing in moths, researchers are turning to automatic monitoring devices and artificial intelligence.
The project
Biodiversa+ is a Horizon Europe project which launched in 2021 as part of the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The initiative promotes high-quality research on biodiversity monitoring and aims to create connections between environmental authorities and other key partners. Eurac Research is participating in three pilot sub-projects: one on invasive plants and alien insect species, one on soil biodiversity, and one on innovative methods for biodiversity monitoring. The tests conducted with the AMI trap for monitoring moths are part of the third sub-project. For more information: https://www.eurac.edu/en/projects/institute-for-alpine-environment/biodiversapilot
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