Urbanization represents a dramatic type of habitat change. Not only does it remove natural habitat for ecological communities, it also increases artificial nighttime light levels that can have negative impacts on night-flying species, such as moths. Feeding, mating and oviposition behaviors of moths can be affected by artificial nighttime lights, and they become more exposed to predators such as bats. In this study, an aerial approach was used to measure the prevalence of artificial nighttime light across an urban landscape (East Lansing, Michigan, USA). These light levels were related to macromoth species richness and abundance at 32 urban trapping sites. Both moth species richness and abundance were positively related to vegetation cover across the landscape, but there was no consistent, discernible impact of artificial nighttime light on either variable. This may be due to the lower attractiveness of high-pressure sodium lights that are used across this particular urban landscape, or to a negative association between the prevalence of landscape light levels and the amount of landscape vegetation. There is also a possibility that macromoths in urban areas have adapted to be less sensitive to light. This study is one of the first to use an aerial approach to measuring urban nighttime lights and departs from the most commonly held theory that increased light prevalence is associated with a depauperate moth assemblage.

Electrical penetration graphing, or electropenetrography (EPG), is a method of indirectly visualizing stylet movement and feeding behavior of phytophagous hemipterans in plant tissue. Here we characterize the EPG waveforms of Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding on soybean, using AC-applied voltage and 10⁷ input impedance with a Backus and Bennett AC-DC monitor. Three distinct feeding-associated waveforms (i.e., waveforms within probes) were recognized for both adults and fifth instars. Pathway (Nv1) represents stylet movements through the plant from initial puncture until the target tissue is located, accompanied by secretion of saliva. An ingestion waveform (Nv2) occurred on pods, petioles, and stems; it was shown histologically on stems to correlate with stylets positioned in xylem. In contrast, Nv3 occurred only on pods and likely represents cell rupture feeding (salivation plus ingestion). We found no indication of ingestion from phloem. EPG variables (waveform attributes, probing and waveform frequencies, and durations) were compared to examine the effect of soybean developmental stage (vegetative, early pods, and pods with developing seed) on feeding behavior of fifth instars. In addition, we compared pathway and ingestion on excised soybean petioles with that on vegetative potted plants and determined the effect of providing water to adults during the pre-trial starvation period. Soybean developmental stage significantly affected nymphal feeding behavior, but the use of cuttings altered few waveform attributes or ingestion behaviors. Provision of water during the starvation period significantly reduced overall likelihood of probing, as well as frequency and duration of Nv2 on green beans.