Larger and polymorphic noctuid moths tend to show less inter-annual abundance variation in the canopy of a temperate forest

Inter-annual variation in insect abundance and seasonal phenology can be related to species traits such as body size, larval diet, overwintering stage, and colour variations. We sampled noctuid moths in the canopy of a forest in Western Poland using flight-interception traps during two vegetative seasons. We calculated inter-annual variation for 31 species, and the date of peak abundance and the length of the flight season for 18 species. We found that for the 23 species for which we had phylogenetic information, larger moths and those with adult colour variation showed less inter-annual abundance variation, which corroborates results of previous studies. We found no indication that phenological traits are associated with the tested species traits. However, species that can feed on the dominant broad-leaved tree in which the traps were placed (Quercus petraea) tended to have a later date of peak abundance than other species. To draw more robust conclusions, future research should encomp..., , # Larger and polymorphic noctuid moths tend to show less inter-annual abundance variation in the canopy of a temperate forest

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.d7wm37qcv](10.5061/dryad.d7wm37qcv)

## Description of the data and file structure

To obtain body size data, we measured the forewing length and thorax width of up to ten individuals of each species. We used specimens from our traps whenever possible, but completed the data using other specimens collected in the region. We then calculated wing loading as wing length2/thorax width3. To obtain information on larval diet, overwintering stage, feeding period, and migratory behaviour, we used authoritative websites (Wagner, 2024; Lepiforum, 2020; Jonko, 2020). Polymorphism was defined as the presence of multiple, discrete variants (or morphs) within a single population, the rarest of which is too common to be solely due to recurrent mutation (McLean and Stuart-Fox, 2014; Gray and McKinnon, 2007; Ford, 1945). Our assessment of polymorphism...,