Insects are the most species-rich taxon, with about one million described species, making up over 70% of all known species (Jonason et al., 2014). Among these, the order Lepidoptera, comprising butterflies and moths, is one of the largest, with around 180,000 described species. While 10% of Lepidoptera are butterflies (suborder Rhopalocera), the remaining 90% are primarily nocturnal moths (historically termed Heterocera) (Kristensen et al., 2007; New, 2004). Moths play crucial roles in ecosystems: as herbivores during their larval stage, as pollinators, and as prey for animals like bats and birds. They are also valuable indicators of environmental change.

The Amurum Forest Reserve, located on Nigeria’s Jos Plateau, is a Key Biodiversity Area, primarily consisting of woodland and gallery forests along seasonal streams. Studying moth diversity across these habitats is essential for conservation and ecological research. Unlike many invertebrates, moth distributions and ecology are well-documented (Fox et al., 2013). However, in recent decades, moth populations have seen significant declines, with potential cascading effects across ecosystems (Jonason et al., 2013; Wickramasinghe et al., 2004). 

Light traps are widely used to survey moths due to their attraction to artificial light (Franzén & Johannesson, 2007). However, factors such as trap design, light type, and weather conditions like temperature and rainfall can influence trap effectiveness (Fayle et al., 2007a; Yela & Holyoak, 1997a). Understanding these factors is important for optimizing data collection and capturing a representative picture of moth diversity.