Open ocean nocturnal insect migration in the Brazilian South Atlantic with comments on flight endurance

Abstract

We observed a nocturnal insect swarm aboard the oceanographic ship Cruzeiro do Sul of the Brazilian Navy, while conducting a survey of the Montague guyot (seamount), 389 km distant from the nearest land in the South Atlantic. The insects came from open sea toward the ship from all directions, attracted by the powerful light of the deck. Most insects collided with the hull and fell into the ocean, but we managed to capture and determine 17 (13 Hemiptera of a single species, three Lepidoptera of three species and one Odonata). With one exception, we are certain that none of the specimens caught originated from the ship. The geographic origin, most likely the coast of Brazil, and flight endurance of these insects were inferred using data on wind speed and direction, provided by the crew of the ship, and were reconstructed using Hysplit modeling of air current trajectories.