During the month of July, the SPEA Azores team in collaboration with CIBIO conducted a new sampling of nocturnal insects in protected areas of Corvo Island. The study covered six sampling points, with four of them located in Corvo’s Natura 2000 protected areas and the other two in the newly established Corvo Biological Reserve. Light traps and the complementary winerope method were used to attract nocturnal insects.
During the field work, the researchers observed considerable differences in vegetation between the sampled areas. In addition, it was found that light traps were particularly efficient in attracting nocturnal butterflies during the sampling period. Subsequently, the captured specimens will be identified and catalogued, allowing to understand the distribution of these species and the impact of light pollution on their populations.
Setting up the light trap
These studies are part of the LIFE Natura@night project, improving knowledge about biodiversity in the protected areas of the Azores, Canary Islands and Madeira.
