182 



BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 



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Fig. 1. Map of Hong Kong and the New Territories. 



Tai Po Kau Special Area, New Territories 



On the nights of 10 and 18 April the light trap was operated from dusk onwards in 

 the woodland at Tai Po Kau (Fig. 2). This is widely considered the most well-developed 

 and species-rich woodland in Hong Kong in terms of native trees and shrubs (Thrower, 

 1984) and is designated a Special Conservation Area by the Government of Hong 

 Kong. Even this woodland is not primary forest however. The woodland has a long 

 history of management and large areas of the original tropical broad-leaved woodland, 

 dominated by oaks and laurels, were cleared and planted with crops of South China 

 pine, Pinus massoniana Lam., Eucalyptus and other introduced species in the 1940s 

 and 1950s. The conifers have largely failed and native broad-leaved trees have grown 

 up in their shelter in the meantime, some reaching in excess of 10 m in height. On 

 both visits the light trap was operated in an area cleared as a picnic site among the 

 trees, about 100 m from the guard post at the entrance to the reserve. The weather 

 was mild and calm on both nights and moths began to arrive as soon as darkness 

 fell — about 19.15 hrs. There was greatest moth activity between dusk and 21.00 hrs 

 after which there was a noticeable decrease in the rate at which new individuals arrived 

 at the trap. On the first night we packed up at 22.00 hrs, by which time activity had 

 dropped to a low ebb. On the second night we continued until 22.30 hrs, at which 

 time few moths were arriving, although new species were still being added. A total 

 of 33 individuals of five species of hawk-moths were recorded at the trap. The numbers 

 of each species are shown in the accompanying Table. 



