The impact of soil surface pressure on shallow burrowing moth species in urban landscapes

• Gabriella Pedrick, Insect Ecology and Conservation, University of Delaware

• Douglas Tallamy, Department of Wildlife and Insect Ecology and Conservation, University of Delaware

Caterpillars make up a significant portion of the base of food webs. Therefore, their observed decline may foreshadow that of other species. Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are increasingly threatened by rapid changes to their environment due to expanding urbanization due to loss and contamination of critical habitat. We are conducting ongoing research on the overwintering survivorship of Lepidoptera in urban systems and investigating how urban landscaping relates to moth survival, emergence, and pupation microhabitat. To gain a better understanding of the effects of common ground surface pressures on burrowing moth species, we raised 200 Agrotis ipsilon until pupation. A. ipsilon is a species of Noctuid moth that feeds generally on species of both weeds and crops as caterpillars and burrows into the ground to pupate. Through studying the effects of common ground surface pressures on Agrotis ipsilon, the black cutworm moth, we hope to draw connections to what kinds of urban habitat results in the highest survivorship. The resulting injury and mortality rates will be compared to the average PSI applied to turf by foot traffic and lawn mowers to determine the optimal habitat for the caterpillars’ survivability.