S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 29/1. (Budapest, 1976)

Our accomodation in the Diamond Mountains was likewise a fortunate one. Since the hotel itself was full so we were given lodgings in a small house resembling an alpine hut in the skirts of the forest. Here too, we took the lamp into the forest as deep as the length of the cable allowed it. In the very hot - at times windy and wet - nights the influx of moths was enormous. In other words, not only our collecting sheet, but the nearby trees and shrubs were also covered by attracted moths, and furthermore, in the grass too numerous insects were sitting or crawling about. Our highest "record" was reached here: 1600 specimens, though there were many more, but we could safely collect and properly pack only this number. Since it was quite a southern locality, large numbers of the families Sphingidae and Notodontidae were about, alongside with many specimens of Geometridae and Noctuidae. The representatives of the subfamily Larentiinae were almost absent at this place too. On the other hand, masses of Microlepidoptera flew here, especially species belonging into the families of Pyraustidae and Pyralidae, which were almost absent in the more northern collecting sites. During our lamping we gained some startling experiences. Thus, for example, a strong moon-shine did not at all disturb our collecting by lamps. The very same applies for the rain. In one night there was a real monsoon rain, it poured down for hours, this circumstance however seemed not to disturb our moths at all. We had to find shelter for our gear and our clothes were soaking wet, water got into the killing bottles, and our lamps were hissing abominably. Fortunately for us, the moths followed us into the house and finally when the numbers were counted we found that the best night of collecting this was. We noted with interest that the second part of the night, in fact, the early morning hours were the best as far as the number of specimens is concerned, since after dusk between 8 and 8.30 p.m. only a few moths were on the wing and came to light. At about 9 p.m. some species appeared which did not come later. Between 9-9.30 and 10.30-11 p.m. the quantity significantly increased, after which there was a pause at about 1 and 1.30 a.m. But what we experienced after this surpassed all imagination. It was as if the whole forest were on the move, so much so that the wing beats of the moths evoked a considerable noise. Butterflies were somewhat scarcer. In the north, in the environs of Pektusan, where the tayga is broken up, extensive flowering clearings were found. Here some Erebia species occurred in such numbers that in a matter of a few hours several hundreds have been safely put away. Higher up, in the region of the alpine meadows large quantities of Parnassius were on the wing. In the Diamond Mountains the majority of the butterflies has gone down, they were at the best rather shabby. Accordingly, in rainy though warm days better results may be expected than in the so-called "good" weather. When the sun was shining the fast flying animals were difficult to catch, while the large-bodied ones (e.g. Papilio) were almost entirely elusive. In drizzling rain the butterflies take nourishment on the flowers or fly lazily about, at such times they can easily be taken. Our Malaise-trap was erected at six different sites, and it functioned for 16 days (numbers in parenthesis refer to localities): 1. Pyongyan, garden of the Hungarian Embassy, 16-20 July (Nos. 266, 274) 2. Sam-zi-yan, 23-25 July (Nos. 284, 289)