Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T16:10:43.889Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A radar study of emigratory flight and layer formation by insects at dawn over southern Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2007

D.R. Reynolds*
Affiliation:
Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
A.D. Smith
Affiliation:
Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK
J.W. Chapman
Affiliation:
Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK
*
*Fax: +44 1634 883379/880066 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Radar observations have consistently shown that high-altitude migratory flight in insects generally occurs after mass take-off at dusk or after take-off over a more extended period during the day (in association with the growth of atmospheric convection). In this paper, we focus on a less-studied third category of emigration – the ‘dawn take-off’ – as recorded by insect-monitoring radars during the summer months in southern England. In particular, we describe occasions when dawn emigrants formed notable layer concentrations centred at altitudes ranging from ca. 240 m to 700 m above ground, very probably due to the insects responding to local temperature maxima in the atmosphere, such as the tops of inversions. After persisting for several hours through the early morning, the layers eventually merged into the insect activity building up later in the morning (from 06.00–08.00 h onwards) in conjunction with the development of daytime convection. The species forming the dawn layers have not been positively identified, but their masses lay predominantly in the 16–32 mg range, and they evidently formed a fauna quite distinct from that in flight during the previous night. The displacement and common orientation (mutual alignment) characteristics of the migrants are described.

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aldhous, A.C. (1989) An investigation of the polarisation dependence of insect radar cross sections at constant aspect. PhD thesis, Cranfield Institute of Technology, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK.Google Scholar
Bean, B.R., McGavin, R.E., Chadwick, R.B. & Warner, B.D. (1971) Preliminary results of utilising the high resolution FM radar as a boundary-layer probe. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 1, 466473.Google Scholar
Beerwinkle, K.R., Lopez, J.D., Witz, J.A., Schleider, P.G., Eyster, R.S. & Lingren, P.D. (1994) Seasonal radar and meteorological observations associated with nocturnal insect flight at altitudes to 900 metres. Environmental Entomology 23, 676683.Google Scholar
Campistron, B. (1975) Characteristic distributions of angel echoes in the lower atmosphere and their meteorological implications. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 9, 411426.Google Scholar
Chapman, J.W., Smith, A.D., Woiwod, I.P., Reynolds, D.R. & Riley, J.R. (2002a) Development of vertical-looking radar technology for monitoring insect migration. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 35, 95110.Google Scholar
Chapman, J.W., Reynolds, D.R., Smith, A.D., Riley, J.R., Pedgley, D.E. & Woiwod, I.P. (2002b) High-altitude migration of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella to the U.K.: a study using radar, aerial netting and ground trapping. Ecological Entomology 27, 641650.Google Scholar
Chapman, J.W., Reynolds, D.R. & Smith, A.D. (2003) Vertical-looking radar: a new tool for monitoring high-altitude insect migration. Bioscience 53, 503511.Google Scholar
Chapman, J.W., Reynolds, D.R., Smith, A.D., Smith, E.T. & Woiwod, I.P. (2004). An aerial netting study of insects migrating at high-altitude over England. Bulletin of Entomological Research 94, 123136.Google Scholar
Chapman, J.W., Reynolds, D.R., Smith, A.D., Riley, J.R., Telfer, M.J. & Woiwod, I.P. (2005) Mass aerial migration in the carabid beetle Notiophilus biguttatus. Ecological Entomology 30, 264272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapman, J.W., Reynolds, D.R., Brooks, S.J., Smith, A.D. & Woiwod, I.P. (2006) Seasonal variation in the migration strategies of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea species complex. Ecological Entomology 31, 111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dingle, H. (1996) Migration: the Biology of Life on the Move. 474 pp. Oxford, UK, Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Drake, V.A. (1981) Quantitative observation and analysis procedures for a manually operated entomological radar. CSIRO, Australia. Division of Entomology Technical Paper 19, 41 pp.Google Scholar
Drake, V.A. (1983) Collective orientation by nocturnally migrating Australian plague locusts Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) (Orthoptera: Acrididae): a radar study. Bulletin of Entomological Research 73, 679692.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drake, V.A. (1984) The vertical distribution of macro-insects migrating in the nocturnal boundary layer: a radar study. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 28, 353374.Google Scholar
Drake, V.A. (1985) Radar observations of moths migrating in a nocturnal low-level jet. Ecological Entomology 10, 259265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drake, V.A. (2002) Automatically operating radar for monitoring insect pest migrations. Entomologica Sinica 9(4), 2739.Google Scholar
Drake, V.A. & Farrow, R.A. (1985) A radar and aerial-trapping study of an early spring migration of moths (Lepidoptera) in inland New South Wales. Australian Journal of Ecology 10, 223235.Google Scholar
Drake, V.A. & Farrow, R.A. (1988) The influence of atmospheric structure and motions on insect migration. Annual Review of Entomology 33, 183210.Google Scholar
Drake, V.A., Helm, K.F., Readshaw, J.L. & Reid, D.G. (1981) Insect migration across Bass Strait during spring: a radar study. Bulletin of Entomological Research 71, 449466.Google Scholar
Farrow, R.A. (1986) Interaction between synoptic scale and boundary layer meteorology on micro-insect migration. pp. 185195in Danthanarayana, W. (Ed.) Insect Flight: Dispersal and Migration. Berlin, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Feng, H.-Q., Wu, K.-M., Cheng, D.-F. & Guo, Y.-Y. (2003) Radar observations of the autumn migration of the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and other moths in northern China. Bulletin of Entomological Research 93, 115124.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feng, H.-Q., Wu, K.-M., Cheng, D.-F. & Guo, Y.-Y. (2004a) Northward migration of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and other moths in early summer observed with radar in northern China. Journal of Economic Entomology 97, 18741883.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feng, H.-Q., Wu, K.-M., Cheng, D.-F. & Guo, Y.-Y. (2004b) Spring migration and summer dispersal of Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and other insects observed with radar in northern China. Environmental Entomology 33, 12531265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feng, H.-Q., Wu, K.-M., Ni, Y.-X., Cheng, D.-F. & Guo, Y.-Y. (2005) High-altitude windborne transport of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in mid-summer in northern China. Journal of Insect Behavior 18, 335349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gatehouse, A.G. (1997) Behavior and ecological genetics of wind-borne migration by insects. Annual Review of Entomology 18, 475502.Google Scholar
Gossard, E.E. & Strauch, R.G. (1983) Biological targets and their role in radar backscatter. pp. 171178 in Radar Observations of Clear Air and Clouds. Amsterdam, Elsevier Publishing.Google Scholar
Greenbank, D.O., Schaefer, G.W. & Rainey, R.C. (1980) Spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) moth flight and dispersal: new understanding from canopy observations, radar, and aircraft. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 110, 149.Google Scholar
Hendrie, L.K., Irwin, M.E., Liquido, N.J., Ruesin, W.G., Mueller, W.M., Voegtlin, D.J., Achtemeier, G.L., Steiner, W.M. & Scott, R.W. (1985) Conceptual approach to modeling aphid migration. pp. 541582in MacKenzie, D.R., Barfield, C.S., Kennedy, G.C., Berger, R.D. & Taranto, D.J. (Eds) The movement and dispersal of agriculturally important biotic agents. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Claitor's Publishing Division.Google Scholar
Irwin, M.E. & Thresh, J.M. (1988) Long-range aerial dispersal of cereal aphids as virus vectors in North America. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 321, 421446.Google Scholar
Johnson, C.G. (1969) Migration and Dispersal of Insects by Flight. 763 pp. London, Methuen.Google Scholar
Laird, M.A. (1962) A flight of insects in the Gulf of Aden. Proceedings of the 11th International congress of Entomology, 1960, 3, 3536.Google Scholar
Lewis, T. & Taylor, L.R. (1964) Diurnal periodicity of flight by insects. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 116, 393479.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ottersten, H. (1970) Radar angels and their relationship to meteorological factors. Final Report. Försvarets Forskningsanstalt, Stockholm, FOA Reports 4(2), 133.Google Scholar
Reid, D.G., Wardhaugh, K.G. & Roffey, J. (1979) Radar studies of insect flight at Benalla, Victoria, in February 1974. C.S.I.R.O. Australia, Division of Entomology Technical Paper 16, 21 pp.Google Scholar
Reynolds, D.R., Chapman, J.W., Edwards, A.S., Smith, A.D., Wood, C.R., Barlow, J.F. & Woiwod, I.P. (2005) Radar studies of the vertical distribution of insects migrating over southern Britain: the influence of temperature inversions on nocturnal layer concentrations. Bulletin of Entomological Research 95, 259274.Google Scholar
Richter, J.H., Jensen, D.R., Noonkester, V.R., Kreasky, J.B., Stimmann, M.W. & Wolf, W.W. (1973) Remote radar sensing: atmospheric structure and insects. Science 180, 11761178.Google Scholar
Riley, J.R. (1989) Orientation by high-flying insects at night: observations and theories. Orientation and Navigation – Birds, Humans and other animals. Conference of the Royal Institute of Navigation, Cardiff, 6–8 April 1989. The Royal Institute of Navigation, London.Google Scholar
Riley, J.R. & Reynolds, D.R. (1979) Radar-based studies of the migratory flight of grasshoppers in the middle Niger area of Mali. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 204, 6782.Google Scholar
Riley, J.R. & Reynolds, D.R. (1986) Orientation at night by high-flying insects. pp. 7187in Danthanarayana, W. (Ed) Insect Flight: Dispersal and Migration. Berlin, Heidelberg, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Riley, J.R., Reynolds, D.R. & Farmery, M.J. (1981) Radar observations of Spodoptera exempta. Kenya, March–April 1979. Centre for Overseas Pest Research Miscellaneous Report 54. Centre for Overseas Pest Research, London.Google Scholar
Riley, J.R., Reynolds, D.R. & Farmery, M.J. (1983) Observations of the flight behaviour of the armyworm moth, Spodoptera exempta, at an emergence site using radar and infra-red optical techniques. Ecological Entomology 8, 395418.Google Scholar
Riley, J.R., Reynolds, D.R. & Farrow, R.A. (1987) The migration of Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) (Delphacidae) and other Hemiptera associated with rice during the dry season in the Philippines: a study using radar, visual observations, aerial netting and ground trapping. Bulletin of Entomological Research 77, 145169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riley, J.R., Cheng, X.N., Zhang, X.X., Reynolds, D.R., Xu, G.M., Smith, A.D., Cheng, J.Y., Bao, A.D. & Zhai, B.P. (1991) The long distance migration of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Delphacidae) in China: radar observations of mass return flight in the autumn. Ecological Entomology 16, 471489.Google Scholar
Riley, J.R., Reynolds, D.R., Smith, A.D., Rosenberg, L.J., Cheng, X.-N., Zhang, X.-X., Xu, G.-M., Cheng, J.-Y., Bao, A.-D., Zhai, B.-P. & Wang, H.-K. (1994) Observations on the autumn migration of Nilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae) and other pests in east central China. Bulletin of Entomological Research 84, 389402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riley, J.R., Reynolds, D.R., Smith, A.D., Edwards, A.S., Zhang, X.-X., Cheng, X.-N., Wang, H.-K., Cheng, J.-Y. & Zhai, B.-P. (1995) Observations of the autumn migration of the rice leaf roller Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and other moths in eastern China. Bulletin of Entomological Research 85, 397414.Google Scholar
Schaefer, G.W. (1976) Radar observations of insect flight. pp. 157197in Rainey, R.C. (Ed) Insect Flight. Symposia of the Royal Entomological Society, No. 7. Oxford, Blackwell.Google Scholar
Smith, A.D., Riley, J.R. & Gregory, R.D. (1993) A method for routine monitoring of the aerial migration of insects by using a vertical-looking radar. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 340, 393404.Google Scholar
Smith, A.D., Reynolds, D.R. & Riley, J.R. (2000) The use of vertical-looking radar to continuously monitor the insect fauna flying at altitude over southern England. Bulletin of Entomological Research 90, 265277.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wolf, W.W., Sparks, A.N., Pair, S.D., Westbrook, J.K. & Truesdale, F.M. (1986a) Radar observations and collections of insects in the Gulf of Mexico. pp. 221234in Danthanarayana, W. (Ed) Insect Flight: Dispersal and Migration. Berlin, Heidelberg, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Wolf, W.W., Westbrook, J.K. & Sparks, A.N. (1986b) Relationships between radar entomological measurements and atmospheric structure in south Texas during March and April 1982. pp. 8497in Sparks, A.N. (Ed) Long-range migration of moths of agronomic importance to the United States and Canada: Specific examples of the occurrence and synoptic weather patterns conducive to migration. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service ARS-43.Google Scholar
Wood, C.R., Chapman, J.W., Reynolds, D.R., Barlow, J.F., Smith, A.D. & Woiwod, I.P. (2006) The influence of the atmospheric boundary layer on nocturnal layers of moths migrating over southern Britain. International Journal of Biometeorology 50, 193204.Google Scholar