Moth Diversity and Dominant Species Niches in Cherry Orchards Under Light-trap in the Loess Plateau of Eastern Gansu, China

Lepidopteran moths are crucial for biodiversity, and many populations serve as agricultural and forestry pests. Here, we studied the community structure and diversity of the moth insects in cherry orchards on the Loess Plateau in eastern Gansu. A total of 79 species belonging to 10 families of moth insects were collected using light-trapping. The Geometridae and Noctuidae families had the highest species richness, and Semiothisa cinerearia was the most dominant species. Time niche analysis revealed that the ecological niche width of Geometridae was the largest, indicating a strong ability to utilize time resources, whereas the ecological niche width of Arctiidae was the narrowest. There were cases where niches overlap. The degree of overlap between Pyralidae and Arctiidae was relatively high, so interspecific competition between them was relatively intense. The degree of overlap between Tortricidae and Geometridae was relatively low, so the competition was relatively weak. A relationship was found between the diversity index of moths and environmental factors, particularly temperature and humidity. The abundance of moths was positively correlated with temperature (P < 0.05). The Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, and Pielou index were also positively related to humidity (P > 0.05). Our research results lay a foundation for understanding the distribution of moths in cherry orchards on the arid plateau in Gansu, and help to inform the monitoring, prediction, and management of pests.