The Arctiinae fauna of Camaquã, Iraí, Lagoa Vermelha, Mostardas, Piratini, and São Pedro da Serra, were studied. The moths were caught by using light traps, once a month in the new moon phase, from January 1998 to December 1999. The species richness, abundance, constancy, as well as, the diversity and evenness indexes of Shannon and Brillouin, were used to evaluate the communities. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the variation of individuals among months and localities. In order to estimate the species richness for each locality the nonparametrics statistics procedures Bootstrap, Chao 1, Chao 2, Jackknife 1, Jackknife 2 and Michaelis-Mentem have been used. A total of 9,800 specimens of Arctiinae belonging to 192 species, into 6 tribes were collected. The abundance and species richness were greater in 1998 than in 1999. The highest values of diversity indices in 1998 were found in Camaquã, Iraí and São Pedro da Serra; however in 1999 Iraí, Piratini and São Pedro da Serra were the districts with highest diversity. According to species richness estimators could be found more 34% of species in Camaquã, 18% in Iraí, 75% in Lagoa Vermelha, 47% in Mostardas, 66% in Piratini and 43% in São Pedro da Serra.
Arctiidae; diversity; light trap; moths; Neotropical
