Suparoek Watanasit, Chaiwat Pramual, Surakrai Permkam, and Siripron Thong-Aree

pp. 197 - 210

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the species diversity and abundance of geometrid
moths in tropical rain forest of Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (< 200 meters above sea level), Narathiwat
Province, southern Thailand. Field data were collected every 2 months from July 2001 to July 2002. Three
light traps were placed 200 meters apart. Moths were collected every 2 hours between 18.00 - 24.00 pm for 3 consecutive nights. Seven hundred and fifty six individuals of geometrid moths comprising 5 subfamilies,
17 tribes, 67 genera and 129 species were collected and identified. According to the numbers of species and
individuals, moths in subfamily Ennominae (79 species, 522 individuals respectively) were the predominant
group followed by Geometrinae (32 species, 88 individuals), Desmobathrinae (8 species, 42 individuals),
Sterrhinae (7 species, 24 individuals) and Larentiinae (3 species, 80 individuals). The number of species and
individuals varied with collecting time as follows: 18.00 - 20.00 pm (61 species, 199 individuals); 20.00 - 22.00
pm (90 species, 298 individuals); 22.00 - 24.00 pm (75 species, 259 individuals). However, the most abundant
species were Hypocecis costaria Guenee, Omiza lycoraria Guenee, Ectropis bhurmitra Walker, Hypomecis
sommereri Sato and Eois memorata Walker.
No association between rainfall or temperature and total number of species or individuals was found.
The total numbers of individuals in subfamilies Ennominae and Geometrinae were positively correlated with
temperature (P<0.01, r_s = 0.893 and 0.964 respectively). No difference in total number of species or individuals was found between dry and wet season.