The Lepidoptera of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar: Calculating faunal similarity among sampling sites and estimating total species richness

Abstract

An intensive 3-year survey of the Lepidoptera of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in southwestern San Diego County, California, was conducted from October 1995 through September 1998. Sampling methodology included blacklight trapping (364 nights), diurnal collecting (148 days), and pheromone “baiting.” About 646 species of Lepidoptera were documented from the Station, including 20 (or more) undescribed moth species and one “sensitive” butterfly species - Hermes copper, Lycaena hermes (Edwards). Two species were newly recorded for the United States - Dryadaula terpsichorella (Busck) (Tineidae) and Metapluera potosi Busck (Gelechiidae). While the species accumulation curve reached a convincing asymptote, it is highly unlikely that all species of Lepidoptera present on the Station were sampled. Four methods extrapolated or estimated the fauna to be between 706 and 922 species. Based on the family Geometridae, faunal similarity among a subset of 10 permanent blacklight sites ranged from 0.29 to 0.69. We briefly discuss how Lepidoptera inventories may provide insight into identification of areas of high conservation value.