2023
As part of a Biology doctoral thesis at Maynooth University, an investigation was conducted on nocturnal scavenging within the woodlands of Carton House. The study focused on two adjacent field sites, where the presence and abundance of nocturnal invertebrate scavengers were documented.
To attract scavengers, cadavers of Galleria mellonella (wax moth or honeycomb moth) were utilised as bait. These cadavers were strategically placed in traps, spaced 1 meter apart, along a 20-meter transect line. Throughout the transect, the groundcover was also assessed at regular intervals using 1x1 meter quadrats.
The traps were set during the evening hours (6-9 pm), and the presence of scavengers was observed on-site after a two-hour interval. It is important to note that no harm was caused to the invertebrates, and they were not removed from the site. Furthermore, no alterations were made to the natural environment of the field site.
Among the scavengers recorded, slugs were the most abundant, with Lehmannia valentiana emerging as the most common species observed during the study.
