Phenology and the influence of meteorological parameters on the catching success of light‐trapping for Trichoptera

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Abstract
SUMMARY. 1. Adult Trichoptera were caught for 1 year (February 1989‐March 1990) on the banks of the Danube at Bad Deutsch Altenburg, Lower Austria, using a Jermy‐type light trap. The blacklight tube of the trap was in operation all night, and the samples were taken at daily intervals. From a total of 33,465 specimens caught, the most abundant species were Psychomyia pusilla Fabr. (Psychomyidae), the three hydropsychids Hydropsyche pellucidula Curtis. Hydropsyche bulgaromanorum Mal. and Hydropsyche contubernalis McL., and the leptocerid Ceraclea dissimilis Steph.2. The total catch included fifty‐three of the 284 Austrian species from thirteen families. One female of the parthenogenetic Apatania muliebris McL. was the second specimen ever collected in Austria.3. The phenology of seventeen species was studied in detail, all of them summer species. Two types of flying seasons were observed: short flight periods of 3 months or less (seven species) and prolonged periods lasting 4–7 months (ten species).4. In nine species the sex ratio was significantly different from 1:1.5. The influence of precipitation, wind speed and night air temperature (maximum, mean and minimum) on catching success was tested. Only the effect of air temperature was significant with maximum night air temperature having a highly significant (P<0,001) correlation with flight activity. No specimens were caught at maximum temperatures below 6.8°C, and catching success was highest on warmest nights.