Spatial Distribution of Lepidoptera in Forest Ecosystems of Central European Russia: Studies Using Beer Traps

Temperate forests are highly complex ecosystems in which many aspects of invertebrate distribution and abundance remain poorly understood. In order to accumulate data on the vertical temporal forest Lepidoptera Republic Mordovia (central European part Russia), specimens were collected with beer-baited traps from April October 2019–2022. Traps deployed at different heights above ground level (i.e., 1,5, 3,5, 7, 12 m) deciduous forests, pine edges, glades. Over four-year sampling period, over 69,000 examined. maximum was observed m level, whereas 7 m. both types, lowest sample sites 1.5 level). glades 2020, 2 m, showing a conspicuous decline trap height ground. However, this pattern not repeated subsequent years. exhibited various patterns seasonal among habitat but most showed bi- or trimodal (corresponding spring summer fall), greatest number captured late autumn. Forest edges all sampled types.